CoC : Taetre - Out of Emotional Disorder : Review

Taetre - _Out of Emotional Disorder_
(Diehard, 1999)
by: Paul Schwarz (8.5 out of 10)

It is very unusual for me to feel that a press release actually sells an album short in my view. In fact, I really can't remember a single time a press release didn't go OTT on praising an album, however monumentous or utterly rubbish that album turned out to be, in my opinion. So here is the exception, and Taetre's second album is exceptional in more than just the way its content relates to its press release. Though I will admit the core of their sound is still that of brutal melodic Gothenburg death metal, Taetre have evidently tried to do more with this album than simply to rewrite their debut. One of the things I felt _The Art_ was lacking in was variation and this led to it becoming tedious before its 41 minutes was finished. _Out of Emotional Disorder_ may only be 37 minutes by comparison, but the fact still stands that it holds my attention for its whole duration. Taetre have, quite simply, written better, tighter and more dynamic songs. They utilize acoustic and keyboard backed sections for the purpose of creating a dynamic, and they do it well, almost as well as their countrymen At the Gates (RIP) or Dark Tranquillity. Taetre retain their brutality throughout this release, even in their interesting and effective cover of The Rolling Stones' "Paint it Black", though they still lack the kind of dark, encapsulating atmosphere which dethroned emperors Dissection were masters of and Dawn have exhumed from the crypts of eternity for the present. But Taetre -are- doing well: Andy LaRocque's production works well for them and in just a year they have developed their songwriting immensely without sacrificing their integrity; that's more than can be said for many a band.

(article published 19/5/1999)

ALBUMS
6/7/1998	P Schwarz	8	Taetre - The Art