Welcome to the Church of Hate

Cryptkicker’s EP Welcome To the Church of Hate has been hailed to be there best work. I agree 100% with that statement. The songs that came off this album are Cryptkickers most well known songs. Definitely the bands finest moments, with well written and catchy songs. There is no really solid solo's on this album which sucks. More like little lead licks, which do not always do the part, but manage the song.

Absence of Illusion is the first track on this mini album. It starts off with an eerie type beginning that has a weird robot voice talking. Then the robot yells “WELCOME TO THE CHURCH OF HATE”. Pantera comes to my mind with these riffs. The chorus has very memorable lyrics that you could pick up on the first round through. The lead part in this song is very short and does not sound all that great. Other then that it is a solid heavy metal tune.

Now More Than Ever is probably my favorite song off this album, and my favorite song out of Cryptkickers whole career. It starts off with a slow bass riff with the guitars playing a very beautiful clean melody. Rob Forrider just talks threw this part which matches the riff very well. The drums are very quite until it comes to the chorus where the guitars get distorted and the vocals get screaming. About half way threw the song the verse chorus pattern changes into somewhat of a solo section, if you want to call it that. The riff is very pounding and makes you want to head bang. Then it cuts out and goes back to the pleasing clean intro.

The start of Possession and the verse riffs reminds me of Pantera instantly. At the end Forrider does this weird thing where he sounds like a goat then he screams once again reminding me of Phil. Nothing spectacular here just another heavy ass song.

If you’re into Cryptkicker you need this album!!! If you’re into Pantera or semi death metal then I suggest checking the album out.

Crypt Kicker, a band that never really made it anywhere, except for my hometown. Welcome to the Church of Hate is an EP contaning 3 songs, so I will review each song individually. If you've never heard Crypt Kicker, which I am sure 98% of you haven't, just think of a satanic Pantera. The riffs are that like Pantera, especially Far Beyond Driven. Forrider's voice has the similiar tendancy of sounding like Phil's with the wild screams and mellow sounding vocals, except Forrider generally stays with a low tone. There are also hints of crude vocals, or growling dm type vocals (especially on the song Now More Than Ever).

The first song Absence if Illusion, is perhaps my favorite Crypt Kicker song of all time, even though I don't agree with the lyrics. It starts out with this weird sound and this robot thing talking, pretty cool effects for a small time band like Crypt Kicker. Than it blasts in with "Welcome to the Church of Hate"; a crude sound of low distorted guitars and this weird Panteraish lead fill. The song is decent, but doesn't go anywhere fast.

Now More Than Ever, the next song, shows the musical talents of this band. Opening up with a strong bass line and a nice clean intro, with talking vocals, then a blast into a hard riff with dm style vocals. The theme of the song; the same as all Crypt Kicker songs: violence, death, burning flesh and the like.

Possession is a nice little fast song that reminds me of Primal Concrete Sledge. The vocals are the same style, very low tone, with a nice Phil scream at the end of the song. This song has that groove kind of feeling that makes you want to headbang. The only thing I can think of is Pantera with deeper rooted vocals. Overall it is not a bad EP, especially for a small time band! I would recommend it to everyone, just to hear it, but you probably never will...