Hallucinations

To be honest, this is a very inaccessible record, even to the seasoned death metal fan. It doesn’t matter how much prog metal you listen to, or how you listen to Cryptopsy and Wormed whilst meditating because nothing much can prepare you for what you will hear on this CD. I was appalled at first, I couldn’t gather why a group of people would make such horrible music intentionally. However when you become accustomed to the haphazard rhythms and the wild tempo changes, you begin to appreciate the complexity of the music. And adore it.

Considering the technicality of the album you’d expect them to list Gorguts and Atheist among their influences but in fact it’s vice versa. The album was released in 1990, which makes it all the more impressive and Luc Lemay even went so far as to cite this and its predecessor “Todessehnsucht” as his main sources of inspiration for the much acclaimed “The Erosion of Sanity”. Of course Atheist released “Piece of Time” in the same year but the complexity and overall intensity of “Hallucinations” makes it a far more captivating listen.

Unlike other experimental bands, Atrocity don’t mess about with jazz sections or clean settings. The sound remains firmly rooted in the death metal camp for the whole album and a gloomy, decadent atmosphere shrouds every song despite the dynamic song structures. This is authentic head banging material. At times we have blistering pace (though sometimes to the extent that we don’t have a notion of what is going on) and at other times we have the slow, crunchy breakdowns which are reminiscent of early Autopsy. Sounds like every death metal band ever right?

Wrong. They adhere by the genre’s rulebook but contort it to their unique and unpredictable vision, which makes this album a classic in its own rights. One of the more prominent features of this record are the drums; loud in the mix and played in such eclectic and discordant fashion that it is hard not to acknowledge their awesome power! Also note the bass. Its inclusion is both surprising and welcome, another reason to look upon this album as a landmark.

It is a concept album (believe it or not) about drug addiction. I won’t ruin it for you but I will tell you that the lyrics tell a sombre and repulsive tale (especially in the opening track “Deep in your Subconscious”). Considering their origins, Atrocity write quite well in English and for the most part avoid clichés and cringe-worthy lines (unlike certain black metal groups). The vocals are a mix between the average Floridian growl and a more traditional Teutonic /Scandinavian styling. It sits well amongst the baffling yet ingenious musicianship and is one of the more attractive elements of their music to unfamiliar listeners.

This is a must have album for anyone who is actively interested in seeking out good music. However, the album has stopped being reproduced so finding an original copy will be no walk in the park! But do not lose faith, friend, I’m sure you can uncover some songs by talking to the right people. It’s one of the best examples of innovative and creative playing in a genre which is sadly becoming so stagnant.