Maximum Metal Rating Legend
5 Excellent - Masterpiece. A classic.
4.5-4 Great - Almost perfect records but there's probably a lacking.
3.5 Good - Most of the record is good, but there may be some filler.
3 Average - Some good songs, some bad ones at about a half/half ratio.
2.5-2 Fair - Worth a listen, but best obtained by collectors.
1.5-1 Bad - Major problems with music, lyrics, production, etc.
0 Terrible - Waste of your life and time.

Note: Reviews are graded from 0-5, anything higher or not showing is from our old style. Scores, however, do not reveal the important features. The written review that accompanies the ratings is the best source of information regarding the music on our site. Reviewing is opinionated, not a qualitative science, so scores are personal to the reviewer and could reflect anything from being technically brilliant to gloriously cheesy fun.

Demos and independent releases get some slack since the bands are often spent broke supporting themselves and trying to improve. Major releases usually have big financial backing, so they may be judged by a heavier hand. All scores can be eventually adjusted up or down by comparison of subsequent releases by the same band. We attempt to keep biases out of reviews and be advocates of the consumer without the undo influence of any band, label, management, promoter, etc.

The best way to determine how much you may like certain music is to listen to it yourself.
Band
Polterchrist
Title
Engulfed By The Swarm
Type
LP/EP
Company
Season of Mist
YOR
2004
Style
Black
11/4/2004 - Review by: Axeman
Polterchrist- Engulfed By The Swarm - Season of Mist: 2004 Reviewed by Axeman

Track Listing
01. Alone
02. The Sun Will Burn Black
03. Terminal
04. Lies... Pain... Hate
05. The Art Of Ferocity
06. Here We Lie
07. Engulfed By The Swarm
08. Desolate Paradise
09. The Battle
With so many extreme metal bands out there these days it is becoming commonplace for groups to meld an array of styles together to keep us listeners guessing. Philadelphia's POLTERCHRIST ride the blackened/death fence, but throw so many twists and turns in there that it certainly kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the entire disc. From power ballad intros to skull bashing ferocity, moments of clarity, doom and even catchy, melodic thrash...you soon realize this band leaves no stone unturned on this neck snapping release. "Engulfed By The Swarm" is not your show-stopping, mind numbing, technical metal that drops your jaw to the floor, yet I found myself enjoying this quite a bit none-the-less. It's not an easy feat to blend so many styles, vocals and tempo-shifts together and keep it listenable. The consensus of the nay-sayers is that this band has no concrete direction in their music. That is the exact quality that helps POLTERCHRIST stick out in a pack of groups that play with the same-sounding redundancy of the next guy. Pick up POLTERCHRIST and start thinking outside the box.

Bottom Line: Fasten your seat-belts...you're in for a wild ride!!!

--Axeman 11.04.04
  • 1 :REVIEW COUNT
    N/A :AVE RATING

ALL REVIEWS FOR: POLTERCHRIST
TITLE
DOR
COMPANY
REVIEWER DATE MADE RATING
Engulfed By The Swarm
2004
Season of Mist
Axeman11/4/2004
-

ALL INTERVIEWS FOR: POLTERCHRIST
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