Search - Lost Souls :: Chaostream

This kicks rump!

king beagley | warsaw, in usa | 06/18/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"this band is new to me. I decided to try this out and it is awesome. a word of advice: before you headbang, go out and get a neck brace, because you will most certainly get whiplash."

Successful early Morbid Angel clone. Worth your time.

Ben Stubbs | Australia | 05/21/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Those of you that know me will know just how much I adore Dave Vincent era Morbid Angel. The American masters released 4 outstanding albums in this period between 1989 and 1995 that display death metal in its most brilliant form. But their last few releases have been lack lustre in comparison, with 2003's "Heretic" being a particularly low point in their career. Why do I mention this? One spin of Lost Soul's latest album "Chaostream" and you'll know. This sounds just like the Morbid Angel of yesteryear. Whether Lost Soul are playing fast (which is most of the time), or slower crushing death metal, they sound very, very similar indeed. Even the vocalist has a likeness to Mr Vincent.



So is this cloning a good thing or a bad thing? I'd have to say a bit of both. It's a bad thing due to the obvious lack of originality factor. Lost Soul do attempt to make some interesting death metal and I think they have succeeded, but the similarities are just so blatant that it's really hard to praise them for it too much! Then again, it's been such a long time since Morbid Angel have been in their prime, that I'm willing to accept this album with open arms. The fact is Lost Soul are very, very good at what they do.



For the uninitiated, this is very brutal technical death metal, with an adoration for blast beats and some rather out-there riffs. The drumming is truly something to behold, with at times outrageous barrages and time-changes that take a little while to sink in to the listener's psyche. They've managed to get an awesome production that is both crushing and clear enough for each instrument to hold its own.



One of the other high-points on the album is the solos. It's becoming more of a fashion these days to keep tracks short and have very short solos if any at all (Vital Remains know how to do it right!). Lost Soul have some skilled musicians and the guitar solos here, if not approaching the quality or creativity of Morbid Angel's Trey Azagthoth, are consistently interesting and add to the tracks rather than just fill in time.



With such a low amount of quality death metal releases in 2004 (Behemoth's "Demigod" being one of the better ones), I have found myself thoroughly enjoying "Chaostream" and I'm sure it will get quite a few listens in the future.



So, if you want a very solid brutal album to keep you occupied until Nile's next release comes out, and you don't mind the fact that there's nothing particularly original here, then what are you waiting for? Otherwise, just spin "Blessed Are the Sick" a few more times!"

Best Death Metal CD I've heard in awhile

Michael Anthony | Tampa, FL USA | 02/10/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I'm not too familiar with alot of the newer Death Metal bands out there but I like alot of the older bands (Obituary, Morbid Angel, Deicide, Suffocation, ect...). A friend of mine had this CD and he insisted for me to listen to it and I was amazed because alot of the newer DM bands don't do much for me. The track "GodState" is worth the purchase alone. If you like DM in general definately don't pass this one up."