Few German rock acts can compete with Atrocity in the arenas of versatility, self-sufficiency and constant musical reinvention. Atrocity's Atlantis is a spectacular and well-conceived conceptual saga and potent comeback af... more »ter a three-and-a-half-year sabbatical. The extremely dynamic work delivers bombastic, epic songs, in which heaviness, atmosphere, and melody are brought together exposing the story of Atlantis and the Golden Age.« less
Few German rock acts can compete with Atrocity in the arenas of versatility, self-sufficiency and constant musical reinvention. Atrocity's Atlantis is a spectacular and well-conceived conceptual saga and potent comeback after a three-and-a-half-year sabbatical. The extremely dynamic work delivers bombastic, epic songs, in which heaviness, atmosphere, and melody are brought together exposing the story of Atlantis and the Golden Age.
White Line, Mirror & A Credit Card | Moscow , Russia | 03/05/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Every fan of:
1) Mystical history;
2) Low-guitar death-based metal;
3) Great melodies;
4) German band "Atrocity" -
should buy this album immediately.
Nothing more to add. Experience it by yourselves. Just:
1) Keep album lyrics in front of you while listening to the album, for it is the conceptual work. Lyrics here are the must-read ones;
2) Give it another listen after you hear it for the first time, just listen it as a whole. Don't randomize the tracks. It is necessary to see a whole picture drawn in the album.
Enjoy!"
Good, but doesn't quite add up to its intriguing ingredients
Ben Stubbs | Australia | 05/21/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Atrocity have been around since the 80s, but this is the first time I've had the chance to check out what they are all about. They have a huge following in Germany and with this being their first release in 4 years, there were a lot of expectations to be met. It has been necessary for me to give this album quite a few spins before being able to come to grips with the whole thing. The band members have not allowed themselves to be closed in, and the result is an album that crosses a few genres without ever seeming incohesive.
"Atlantis" is a theme-based album which covers the mythical story of the Atlantean empire and their eventual demise. I find the concept to be very interesting, and I think Atrocity have done an excellent job of merging this chosen theme into 15 tracks that range from a heavy gothic pop to reasonably brutal death metal. They make use of classical instruments, female vocals, clean and death male vocals, double bass drumming, slow and fast riffing sections to create a truly intriguing piece of work.
Unfortunately, it's not as captivating as all these ingredients might sound. Whereas the choruses of most songs are highly memorable (I find myself humming them hours later), there are many sections of songs that are just plodding simple riffs that don't hold my attention. I find myself holding out for the chorus instead of enjoying the rest of the songs. Songs like "Gods of Nation" and "Enigma" have sections of greatness, but are let down by areas of blah. I find the most enjoyable track to be "Clash of the Titans", which also happens to be the heaviest piece on the album. Perhaps it is just a matter of taste.
Overall, "Atlantis" is a thoroughly enjoyable album that doesn't quite form the masterpiece that so many intriguing ingredients looked certain to make, without ever sinking to the depths of the ancient city it describes so passionately.
"
Buy this if you're a true metal head
Scott Rodriguez | Lakewood, CO United States | 09/13/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Well I've never even heard of this band before this weekend, but I'll be buying a lot more of their previous work. This CD was awesome - great variety! The guitars and punishing parts sound like a mix of Behemoth, old school Sepultura, Dimmu...etc...but then out of nowhere, they change up their speed, and sound almost like something 80's. It's weird...but I like it. I hate it when bands just play the same song, and speed over and over again. This is a CD you can listen to from start to finish, and not get bored. Worth buying...as it will be played often."
Up from the depths
Justin Gaines | Northern Virginia | 05/20/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Never just your ordinary band, Germany's Atrocity has always pushed the envelope of extreme music, starting with their death metal roots and continuing through their forays into symphonic, gothic, and electronic styles.
2004's Atlantis is Atrocity's finest album to date, combining the various elements that they have experimented with on previous albums into one cohesive conceptual work about the legendary lost city. Above all things, the crushing riffs and brutal male vocals make it clear that Atlantis is a death metal album, albeit a highly melodic one. It also features symphonic arrangements, female vocals, and elements of both gothic metal and electronica. This unusual mixture works surprisingly well, and the transition from Therion-style epics like Reich of Phenomena and Omen to danceable gothic songs like Gods of Nations and Cold Black Days (which sounds like a Paradise Lost b-side) to unabashedly brutal songs like Morbid Mind is seamless. You don't even have to study the lyrics to recognize that there is an underlying theme that holds these songs together.
I highly recommend Atlantis to just about any open-minded extreme metal fan, particularly those who are into bands like Therion, Paradise Lost, Sirenia, Samael, Leaves Eyes, and Tristania. It's not a direct match for any of these bands, but shares similar elements with all of them.