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Impaled Nazarene > All That You Fear > Reviews
Impaled Nazarene - All That You Fear

One of Impaled Nazarene's better works - 86%

Noktorn, September 28th, 2008

This is one of latter-era Impaled Nazarene's better works. Impaled Nazarene went through something of a transformation around halfway through their career (so far, anyway) from black/thrash/grind to melodic yet still brutal black metal. Impaled Nazarene never really shook off the black/thrash/grind entirely, and it still pops up from time to time on newer releases. That's all well and good, but Impaled Nazarene's ability to pull those sections off has diminished at the same time their ability to compose engaging and epic melodies has increased.

For that reason, 'All That You Fear' is a very good album because it's dominated by melody and what more primitive parts occur seem to be pulled off better than usual. Granted, it's can only be so different; it's an Impaled Nazarene album after all, and the changes from album to album are rarely sweeping in nature. The array of thrashy and melodic black metal riffs are still present with sawing guitar tone, drums are intense and well played, and vocals are a demented, throat-shredding scream that tears through the music like a chainsaw through a pig. The songs are conventionally verse-chorus in nature, and it fits the punky nature of the music in general. If you've heard Impaled Nazarene, you know what this sounds like, plus more melodic riffing.

'Armageddon Death Squad' might be the best track on the album due to having the catchiest chorus in the band's history. Then again, 'Curse Of The Dead Medusa' is similarly excellent, with an array of fantastic riffs and rhythms. But then there's the fantastic title track... really, there's no weak points to be found on this album. Even the most mediocre tracks are still firmly within the realm of quality music, and at its best, the music is some of the best modern black metal out there. I can listen to it repeatedly without a hint of boredom.

It's doubtful that anything on this album will change the minds of non-black metal fans, but for those who enjoy the genre and the band, it's a no-brainer to pick this one up. I listen to it a lot.

All That You Fear - 86%

aeric7734, March 29th, 2005

Impaled Nazarene have always been a band metalheads either love or hate. Their music always a blend of sadistic post-thrash and black metal, with little industrial flourishes rearing their ugly heads every now and again. Their sound has consistantly remained extreme (in the most visceral sense of the word), uncompromising, and unapologetically blasphemous and misogynistic. But then again, that has always been part of Impaled Nazarene's charm.

Ever dedicated to the Osmose label, this Finnish outfit have released their 8th and possibly best (not to mention most accessable) album, All That You Fear. It is classic Impaled Nazarene through and through. With every quirk (every album has a song title which makes use of the word 'goat') and recognizable nuance left intact.

This is not an album intended to bring more listeners into the fold. Impaled Nazarene have been preaching to the congregation for some time now, and will undoubtedly continue in this vein. What they tap into musically is not any different from past releases, except that it is more polished, less sloppy, and even more energetic than efforts like Suomi Finland Perkele or Nihil. This one ranks up there with the Absence of War..., Latex Cult, and Tol Cormpt Norz Norz Norz (the album that initially drew me to this band back in 1996) as far as I'm concerned. Yes, that's right, you can't fuck with a classic, but this one comes damn close.

Other listeners may scoff, citing ridiculous claims of Impaled Nazarene not remaining KVLT, but fuck those grimfisted salad tossers. Back in the day, when I thought about elite black metal, I thought about bands that maintained the crust mentality of not giving a shit about media hype or fan criticism (the same mentality found in bands like Discharge, Anti Cimex, Crude SS, and Mob 47); I thought about Impaled Nazarene, who to this day manage to convey that classic sound and fuck you attitude. What they do, they do better than any of their past contemporaries have managed and that is really saying something.

A Step In The Right Direction - 71%

Monstro_City, September 21st, 2004

As you (the reader) no doubt know, I have entitled this review: "A Step In The Right Direction", taken a little too late. It is unforunate that of all the time Impaled Nazarene had to improve upon itself, they had only done so within the time it took to create their last two releases. Anything before "The Absence of War does not Mean Peace" is (from a standpoint regarding musicianship) unacceptable.

Throughout the career of Impaled Nazarene the one element that has never changed in even the slightest, is their Singer. And strangely enough, with as many bad albums behind them as there are, now that they are getting good....the singer is sounding better. He's more energetic, and
enthusiastic and seems to be into the music more that he was. The Vocalist maintains a standard Black Metal Scream that is neither memorable or annoying (he's nothing special), and the album as a whole sounds a great deal better for that reason.

As we continue, the next element I wish to adress is the new found talent of their Guitarist. I would assume that he was hired after the other left or died. Above all, the riffs that he plays are satisfactory and well heard, and at all times they are quite well mastered. Furthermore, his style is that of the transition of Hardcore Punk to Thrash. They are Thrashy, yet consistent, they don't change often. This unfortunately renders most songs monotinous, and makes you want to switch to the next track so your interest is maintained. Finally, they fucking solo (well)! The Guitar solos do lack direction, but after listening to their old stuff I don't care anymore.

The Rhythm Section has improved as well, however, because the Bass is present but not independantly heard, I will skip to Percussion! Their Drummer now has direction due to the other members finding their own. He finally has dilivered a well done performance, that is devoid of Doublekick at most times but does come into play occasionally. Still not as much as I would like, of course! His pace has sky-rocketed, and the band (for once) has a Back Bone.

This is the point in the career of Impaled Nazarene where everything that they are capable of doing, they will do. The funny thing is, is that WildChild left before the band became good, rather ironic wouldn't you say!? Nevertheless, despite the abandonment of their old True Black Metal sound, they remain in touch with the scene that Spawned them.