CoC : Nightrage - Descent Into Chaos : Review

Nightrage - _Descent Into Chaos_
(Century Media, 2005)
by: Jackie Smit (5.5 out of 10)

You have to wonder about the long term vitality of a genre when even a principal contributor to one of its defining moments can't manage to inspire a record that hits more often than it misses. I realise that I bash melodic death metal fairly regularly on these pages, but my vitriol certainly isn't without foundation. Like many of you, I have watched in dismay as the infinitely engaging blueprint laid down by the likes of _Slaughter of the Soul_ has been gradually diluted until the majority of what passes for melo-death these days amounts to little more than family-friendly folk music played through a distortion pedal. There's no excitement, no sense of threat or adventure -- and certainly nothing approaching any real sense of depth or aggression. _Descent Into Chaos_ starts off well -- "Being Nothing" is fast, brutal and satisfyingly remorseless. "Phantasma" signals an impending decline, until finally "Poems" confirms that there is simply nothing special about Nightrage's sophomore effort. And yes, I am fully aware that the record will certainly have its share of admirers -- personally however, I find the overall result to be just a notch above complete tripe.

Contact: http://www.nightrage.com

(article published 22/2/2005)