CoC : Usurper - Visions From the Gods : Review

Usurper - _Visions From the Gods_
(Necropolis Records, 2000)
by: Aaron McKay (7.5 out of 10)

This "1994 demo and rare live and unreleased material" started off with "Soulstalker '96" sounding an -awful lot- like Gorgoroth's _Destroyer_, but then cuts into a riff about the two minute mark that work do Tad proud. Excellent! Then track two, "Deep in the Forest", blows your (black) heart through the back of your chest with sludge-heavy rhythms and double bass drum work. I think Blackheim and Bewitched would be impressed by Usurper's excoriated work on this album. Let me touch on track eight, "Wolflord", for a brief second. At the very onset of the song, I thought that Usurper covered Crowbar's "I Have Failed". Yes, it's cool. As it turns out, I think that "Wolflord" might be a welcome addition to Crowbar's repertoire. As cement crushing as this track is, it is no wonder it turned out to be a favorite of mine on _VFtG_. Even the one and only live track on the release, "Blood Passion", as the last track, nine, is completely venerable. If the truth be know, I think that _Usurper II: Skeletal Season_ is my favorite -- possibly even more than _Diabolosis_, the band's debut on Head Not Found. _VFtG_ places a very respectable third regarding the band's album history, I feel I have to admit. I'm not convinced that anyone can go wrong with -any- Usurper effort.

(article published 12/8/2000)

ALBUMS
12/13/2004	J Smit	8	Usurper - Cryptobeast
1/10/2001	A McKay	8	Usurper - Necronemesis
6/7/1997	S Hoeltzel	7	Usurper - Threshold of the Usurper

GIGS
8/12/1999	A Wasylyk	Cradle of Filth / Usurper / Endless / Averse Sefira	Averse Conditions Inhibit the Endless Usurp of Filth