Metal Storm logo
Graveworm - (N)utopia review



Reviewer:
7.7

190 users:
7.94
Band: Graveworm
Album: (N)utopia
Release date: January 2005


01. I-The Machine
02. (N)utopia
03. Hateful Design
04. Never Enough
05. Timeless
06. Which Way
07. Deep Inside
08. Outside Down
09. MCMXCII
10. Losing My Religion [bonus] [REM cover]

Graveworm's fifth studio full-length album was released in 2005. Back then I didn't like it that much, but I recently listened to it again, without any prejudices, and it immediately caught my attention in a very positive and surprising way.

I have been a devoted Graveworm fan for several years now and own all their releases so far. I like the way they make their typical Gothic- atmosphere- creating sound with remarkable Black Metal influences and with Stefan Fiori's thrilling screamed vocals. Fiori is also responsible for Graveworm's dark and most of the time romance inspired lyrics.
Graveworm is also known for their great instrumental songs and of course for their violin parts that intensify the Gothic atmosphere.

With "(N)Utopia" the band has reached a new era in their musical evolution. Songs are a bit shorter than usual and also more intense; the keyboard effects have totally replaced the violin. This whole album is much more listener-friendly than ever before. Songs are more powerful and melodic and a lot of catchy elements have been added to the typical Graveworm sound. Also the use of keyboard melodies is - like I said - sometimes strongly present. Great examples of what I stated here are songs like "Timeless," "Never Enough," "Hateful Design" and the (only) instrumental song "Deep Inside."' Songs like "MCMXCII" (1992 written in Roman numerals, also the year in which Graveworm was founded) and "Which Way" have the most remarkable similarities with older Graveworm work but still have influences of a different style with some new elements.

The only thing that hasn't changed and that only is getting better - if possible - are Fiori's vocals (cfr. "I-The Machine" and "MCMXCII"). His voice and the way he can switch from deep growling to higher screaming is just amazing. His vocals have grown stronger through the years and the last four Graveworm albums (including (N)Utopia) each have been a highlight and proof of his talent, and each of those albums is considered to be a Graveworm masterpiece.

Overall this album certainly isn't as bad as I originally thought and I'll even indulge by saying this is a (pretty) good album. But relatively speaking, it's still not as masterly as the three previous albums.


Rating breakdown
Performance: -
Songwriting: 8
Originality: 8
Production: -

Written by Thryce | 04.06.2006



Staff review by
Undercraft
Rating:
8.0
Chances that many of you have heard about this band are pretty wide, since they're pretty known, they're signed to a major Metal label, and this is their fifth full-length, Graveworm are not one more among the crowd, and they want to prove that with this album, strangely entitled "(N)Utopia".

First thing that makes you want to hear this is the beautiful artwork that graces the cover of the album, is just gorgeous, the angel between the sunken crosses, the logo, the whole blue driven color, just perfect, 10 points for the presentation of the Cd.

Read more ››
published 26.12.2004 | Comments (0)


Comments

Comments: 7   Visited by: 46 users
10.06.2006 - 03:19
Rating: 8
Dark Cornatus
Powerslave
Pretty good for a first review man.
I agree about the great Keyboard melodies, especially on Timeless.
The best thing about this album is production, it is probably the loudest and clearest album ive ever heard.
It is alot more user friendly than older albums.
A very strong release, all of their albums are quite strong though.
Note: where you put a '-', shouldnt it be a comma? (',') No im not making smiley faces lol
Loading...
12.06.2006 - 11:24
Thryce
Retired Staff
Thanks for your comment Dark Cornatus, I appreciate it.
About the "-", I'm not quite sure. I thought if you want to mention some side thoughts about the subject you are talking about, you had to put them between "-". But I could be wrong too... Anyway it got through the proofreading, so I guess it should be correct
----
Your favorite band sucks.
Loading...
03.12.2006 - 11:35
lordz
IzZo
"With "(N)Utopia" the band has reached a new era in their musical evolution..." totally agree with you

this album is a step forward for the band as you mentioned the long songs kinda makes them boring to listen too

good review.. fair rate... you should write more reviews Thryce
Loading...
22.12.2006 - 16:14
Thryce
Retired Staff
Written by lordz on 03.12.2006 at 11:35

good review.. fair rate... you should write more reviews Thryce

Well thanks man!

In the meantime I wrote 2 more reviews for 2 awesome Belgian bands: one for Mystica - Carol Anne and one for In-Quest - The Comatose Quanderies.

Enjoy!
----
Your favorite band sucks.
Loading...
08.04.2008 - 04:34
Uirapuru
Liver Failure
very good review... too bad thats the only graveworm review... but anyway.. a fair rate... and a ''ok'' album.
----

----
member of the true crusade against old school heavy metal, early 80s thrash, NWOBHM, traditional doom, first and second wave black metal, old school death metal, US power metal, 70s prog rock and atmospheric doomsludgestoner. o/
Loading...
26.09.2008 - 14:24
REGRET.

I Like Album , Nice Band
Loading...
19.10.2008 - 14:56
Rating: 7
Elio
Red Nightmare
This isn't a bad album at all, I agree also with the rating.
----
IntoPlighT said: "Slipknot is 15 years old how the fuck is that Nu metal?"

BEST. QUOTE. EVER.
Loading...

Hits total: 4177 | This month: 19