Mars Exploration - Vader - Necropolis

[Marsallah]

Death metal week, continued...

Vader - Necropolis (2009)


Members
Piotr Wiwczarek - vocals, guitars, bass
Paweł Jaroszewicz - drums

Style
Death metal

Tracklisting
1. "Devilizer" - 03:19
2. "Rise Of The Undead" - 03:52
3. "Never Say My Name" - 02:01
4. "Blast" - 01:50
5. "The Seal" (muzyka: Wiwczarek) - 02:10
6. "Dark Heart" - 02:59
7. "Impure" - 03:40
8. "Summoning The Futura" - 01:05
9. "Anger" - 02:14
10. "We Are Horde" - 03:10
11. "When The Sun Drowns In Dark" - 07:06
12. "Black Metal" - 03:13
13. "Fight Fire with Fire" 04:05

Vader...what hasn't been said about Peter's band on MRU yet? Perhaps some have concentrated on line-up changes and thus overlooked Vader's recent comeback in style reminiscent of good old times. Is Necropolis really that good?

The verdict is up to you, but as much as this record lacks originality, it is just as good and old school as an old De Profundis lover like me could possibly crave. It starts in you may say an unexpected way - slowly that is. Devilizer is actually mid tempo from beginning till end but mid tempo means fucking slow in Vader terms. Is it bad? Nooo way, it's high fucking time for a change like this. Not only don't I mind slowing down (not just on a Vader album, on every album in fact, no matter how extreme the music is), I fucking demand it! Blasts all along are boring. It's in the slower context that I believe they can be properly appreciated.

Next few tracks are of course speedier, but just as entartaining as the opener. But the real fun IMO starts halfway into the album. Dark Heart (mid tempoish, for the record) boasts probably the catchiest chorus on Necropolis, while the following Impure crushes listeners ears Fear Factory style - dum-dum-dum-dum-dah-dah-dah (again it seems that slower songs draw attention more than the fast ones. Interesting, indeed...).

After second of the album's interludiums (Summoning the Futura) fierce Anger attacks takes no prisoners. Awesome - I love it even though it showcasts Peter's most classic trademarks - in the environment of Necropolis it sounds like I said - awesome. But not as awesome as the final ouverture - When The Sun Drowns In Dark is actually not death but 100% thrash metal, Kreator-style. Rolling, slow, majestic are the words that come to mind. My favorite song on the album along Dark Heart, Impure and Anger.

Too bad Necropolis doesn't end with the echo of its last proper song ringing in the head. After a lengthy pause Vader hits with two cover versions of songs every metalhead knows: Venom's Black Metal (more aggressive than the original, with completely different tempos and Hermh's Bart on backing vocals) followed by Metallica's Fight Fire With Fire (very bland version, with Taff from Rootwater/Black River on lead vocals). It says that these two covers appear on limited version of the album, but sadly I saw them on every CD available in stores.


+
lots of good songs
great sound (I didn't mention it before, but all instruments actually sound very good)
varied speed throughout the album

-
for some, it may be lack of originality
unnecessary cover songs

=
If you ever liked De Profundis, but hated the weak drum sound on that album, Necropolis is for you.

[N00bs]

For me, definitely "Litany", "Revelations", and "The Beast".

[Dago]

Revelations for me, I must say. Great review, Mars! I'll borrow it from a friend this weekend and give it a listen.

[Eye_Am]

Revelations and Impressions in Blood are my votes.
Nice review Mars.

[Amok]

I heard it the other day and it reminded me a lot of The Beast. Not great, but not bad either.

[Metalhead6six6]

The Art of War was great, but The Beast and Impressions were both really awesome. Necropolis is cool too but I can't say I'm not disappointed

Great review though

[Marsallah]

I'm like:

- De Profundis
- Necropolis
- The Ultimate Incantation

But I still gotta hear Litany - many say it's great, but somehow I've never heard it!

[Ryukin]

i like necropolis but it isnt my new favorite by any means. its a solid effort, not a masterpiece. vader had some filler material lately and at least this cd is mostly interesting songs. i think that vader's fight fire is better than the original but not as cool as it could be.

[herrieman]

'is actually mid tempo from beginning till end but mid tempo means fucking slow in Vader terms' that made me laugh hard. I heard the album at Dennis' place two weeks ago, I said I would probably buy it or else I buy it for Tom. I really liked De Profundis, Revelations and Impressions; this album will just make my collection more complete...

[Marsallah]

I'll buy it if I come across a version without the two covers.