Verdict: Bullocksucking... 
 
Negative 5 out of 5 Stars

Verdict: Sucktastic! 
 
4.5 out of 5 stars

Alright, the title says it; if you read my post-scriptum in my last album review, you would know what this album review will be about. For the uninitiated, this is a review of an EP called "In Depths of Dreams Unconscious" by Crimson Moonlight. In my last review, I had a history section about Antestor. However, since Crimson Moonlight doesn't have nearly as rich of a history as Antestor, I will not include that section this time. However, if you don't know who Crimson Moonlight is, here is all the information you will need: They are an unblackened death metal band from Sweden. There, you have what you need. Let's get this review going now, ok? 

  
The EP starts off with the title track, a beautiful, calm instrumental similar to the tracks "Raade" and "Mitt Hjerte" from Antestor's "The Forsaken" (You know; the album I reviewed last time?) Once you get all relaxed by the intro, be prepared to be suddenly blasted by the next track, "Advent of the Grim Hour." As said before, Crimson Moonlight combines unblack and death metal to create their main sound, and with the bassist's extreme death growls and the lead singer's high-pitched shrieking, this song definitely falls into the blackened death metal category. Next, you have "Shiver of Fear," another blackened death metal song. After you've finished the third track, "Alone in Silence," an old-school unblack metal song, tops off the EP. Then, just below the 15 minute mark, the EP ends. 
 
As far as the quality of these tracks, it's hard to say much: "In Depths of Dreams Unconscious" shows just how great a beautiful instrumental on an extreme metal album can be; "Advent" and "Shiver" are great exxamples of what extreme metal should be, with perfectly combined death growls, shrieks, complicated instrumental patterns, etc.; and "Alone" proves that old-school black (or unblack) metal kicks major ass. What more do you want me to say about the quality of the songs here? I can't complain much when songs are of this quality. 
 
Ok, as you know, I have to point out cons after mentioning so many pros about this album, so here they are. As I said with my last album review, this may be too extreme for people new to the metal umbrella genre. What is the solution to this, you ask? Simply listen to less extreme metal until you're ready, just as I said last time. Now, there is only one more problem I have with this masterpiece: It's way too short. Yes, I'm aware that EPs are supposed to be much shorter than LPs, but the songs will leave you wanting for more by the time the EP's over. 
 
So, let's recap 
 
PROS

+Fantastic intro 
+Extremely complex, demanding, amazing middle 
+Powerful outro 
 
CONS 
-May be too intense for the unprepared 
-Short 
 
Verdict: 4/5 stars 
  
This time, I included all the songs right here: 
 
  

Verdict: Mindfuck! 
 
5/5 stars

Antestor, Antestor,... where to begin? First, let's have a little history lesson. They have had a rich history in Norway since they began (under the name "Crush Evil") in 1990. However, unlike most bands at their time, Antestor was an unblack metal band (For the uneducated in black metal, black metal is considered an anti-Christian, Satanic genre with a LOT of controversy behind it, so Christians decided to make a Christian version of the genre, called "unblack metal"). Due to their religious backgrounds, they were the focus of much controversy: Christians feared them due to their dark music, and the general black metal scene was determined to cut their career short. In fact, Euronymous, the controversial guitarist from the even more controversial band Mayhem, was determined to shut down this early form of Antestor (Until bandmate Varg

 Vikernes murdered him in 1993). At the start, Antestor had a more doom/death sound to them. However, as they approached their first album, Martyrium, they took on an (un)blackened death metal sound. With their next album, Return of the Black Death, they combined doom with viking metal (a derivative of black metal). Now, with 2005's The Forsaken, they have taken on a symphonic (un)black metal sound. The question is: How did it do?  
 
Now that we have finished up Antestor's history, let the reivew begin. First off, let us consider the guest acts: First of all, you have Mayhem's Hellhammer (!!!!!) playing on drums throughout the whole album. I don't listen to Mayhem (And NEVER will), but ask a fan of theirs about Hellhammer's skill level, and they will likely tell you that he is beyond a pro, and for good reason; his drumwork is undeniably amazing throughout the whole album, probably explaining why Antestor hired him as a session drummer for this album. In addition to the drummer, The 3rd and the Mortal's Ann-Mari Edvardsen appears to perform operatic vocals on a few tracks. The inclusion of her vocals on the album adds an extra layer of denseness to the already-powerful symphonic elements, and her voice is so perfect. 
 
Time for the tracks themselves; if you have ever heard any form of symphonic black metal, you might have an idea of what this album sounds like; the lead vocals are either shrieked or sung with clean vocals, the bass is fast all the way through, the drums are relentless, and the guitar is both fast and relentless. Therefore, chaotic metal plays in front of you while many various symphinic elements, ranging from stringed instruments to a choir, can be noticed in the bbackground. The album is unique for one major reason; guitar solos are rare in black/unblack metal, but many tracks have solos (All of which do their job).  Their are only two tracks on the album that are not a furious mess of metal; "Raade" and "Mitt Hjerte," which are beautiful, symphonic instrumentals (Yeah, these tracks, for the most part, lack the main instruments, and usually consist of just the symphonic elements and even a few operatic notes from our friend Ann (No lyrics to it, though; just singing)).  As far as the quality of the tracks, I don't know what to say; they are all pretty amazing, they are perfectly paced, none of them are too long to be enjoyable (or too short), etc., etc., etc.,... Everything I can say about the tracks is positive. However, there may be a few negatives for people who aren't far into the metal world; it could be too intense for you. My advice for such people? Listen to classic heavy metal until you are ready for speed metal; listen to speed until you are ready for thrash; listen to thrash until you are ready for death; once you listen to enough death, you are surely ready for The Forsaken. 
 
As I said before, everything that can be said about the tracks is positive. Naturally, this ten track, 44 minute album is an almost perfect metal album that I can't find complaints for. If you aren't ready for this brutal, savage, Christian album, listen to what I told you to listen to. If you despise unblack metal because you are a black metal purist, then either listen to it or GTFO; it's a fantastic, recommendable album, secular or Christian. This is easily Antestor's best effort, and there is only one score I can give The Forsaken:

 
5/5 stars 
 
P.S. I was listening to this album while typing most of this review, just because it's so great! For the first 14 minutes, though, I was listening to Crimson Moonlight's In Depths of Dreams Unconscious EP (Another FANTASTIC unblack metal album, which you can digitally download for like $4; get both The Forsaken and IDDU now!)

I'm just doing this for the xp!

How many of you like the band Trouble? Just curious.

Metal; a music genre that either people love or hate. Personally, I love metal. Which is why I'm asking this question. My favorite is Ride the Lightning by Metallica, and I would post the image but for some reason I can't do that on this website. Some glitches are on this site as far as my server. Oh well. Please don't post black metal images on here.

Just curious about your opinion; mine is Whiplash by Metallica, although technically that's thrash metal.