Shai Hulud "That Within Blood Ill-Tempered" CD
[Revelation]
I've been anxiously awaiting the release of this record since the very second I first heard their debut full-length, and it feels like it's been a million fucking years since that time. I wasn't sure if they'd be able to top their debut, and they haven't in my opinion, but this is still a great record, and they're still one of my favorite bands of all time. The style here is pretty much exactly the same as it's always been: Very intense and very melodic, offering up tons of changes and intricate dual guitar interaction with a writing style that's very much their own. There's more vocal layering and doubling this time though, as well as a bit more complexity as far as the riffing and transitions are concerned. I'd also say it's a lot more diverse, throwing around more discordant chord progressions and unusual note choices as well as some clean breaks and vocal variation (shouting, screaming, lots of backup yells, and so on) to add more dynamics to the songs. Take the break of quiet bass and drums in "Two and Twenty Misfortunes" for example, with vocals fighting their way through to the front. Or what about the energetic and diverse back and forth assaults of the lengthy "Ending the Perpetual Tragedy" - excellent harmonies, nice rhythms, a great experimental break with distant layers of guitar and bass blended with spoken vocals (some distorted)... very nice. The reason I'd really say they haven't topped their debut here is because these longs lack the immediacy and the gutwrenching sort of feeling that the first record had. I'm not immediately taken by any of these songs, and after several listens as the material really grows on me, I don't get that indescribable sensation in my stomach that this stuff is just so good I'm going to flip out and lose my mind - but I still feel that way when I listen to "Hearts Once Nourished With Hope and Compassion". So... I don't know. The production is pretty damn good, but it needs to be brighter I think. The bass can be hard to make out (though not always), and the vocals and guitars can tend to be a little bit muddy in the middle, hence the lead lines pop out with a bit more crispness alongside the drums. It's hard to pinpoint exactly what I'd do to smooth things out, as it does sound pretty good, I'd just like to hear a slightly more cohesive and polished sound, as I think it would truly benefit their approach to writing. The jewel case comes in one of those slipsleeves that contains additional artwork of a very similar nature to the rest of the booklet and a tracklist on the back. The booklet is huge and has one of the most unique folding patterns I've ever seen. The front cover has a wraparound flap with the band logo and album title on it, but then as you fold it open you realize that there are a full two-and-a-half panels to fold out before you reach the actual booklet. All of the artwork consists of deep read splotches of texture with images of figures coiled with snakes, holding their hearts out from their chests, etc. The lyrics are similar to the band's past work, though perhaps not as unflinchingly negative, and when they are somewhat bitter they're covering shards of hope or more positive undercurrents. But regardless, they're still excellent and among the few lyrics I would deem poetic: "This is not my true nature. I was not born as what I have come to be. To be gentle again... An angel's heart given flight by demon's wings faces certain death. Do not let this exterior deceive you. I can easily crush your spirit. My wounds bleed truth. Their voices are caustic. And with the words... a nasty sting from aim and precision of fact. 'How can you be so cruel?' It is not who I am. As it is the hate I feel." In all honesty, I was fully expecting to give this a 10/10 before I even popped it in, just because I fucking love this band. Perhaps my expectations were too high, I'm not sure, but I know that if I had nothing to compare this to I would be a lot more impressed. If this was the first time I had ever heard the band I'd be a lot more into what's going on here, but as much as I like it, I still like their first record a lot more, and some of the songs they've recorded for splits and whatnot since that time ("Love is the Fall of Every Man", for instance) are better than anything on this disc too. I'm not let down. This is a killer album, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't hoping for just a bit more. Now, if they can get another record out in a reasonable amount of time, as opposed to waiting another eternity, they just might obliterate everything they've done before. I certainly won't rule that out. (8/10)
Running time - 38:48, Tracks: 10
[Notable tracks: Willing Oneself to Forget What Cannot Otherwise Be Forgotten, Two and Twenty Misfortunes, This Song: For the True and Passionate Lovers of Music, Ending the Perpetual Tragedy]
Revelation Records - http://www.revelationrecords.com

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