CRYPTOPSY — None So Vile (review)

Album · 1996 · Technical Death Metal

5/5 · 2011-11-12
NorseGangsta

Brutal death metal isn't a genre I am normally a fan of, nor even accustomed to. I have never been a fan of such bands as Cannibal Corpse or suffocation; any death metal I listen to on a regular basis has some connection to prog. None So Vile, however, blows away nearly all other death metal that I have come across over the years.

This album is sheer, raw, crushing brutality. The production is of a low-enough quality to fit in with other brutal death metal albums of this style, yet crisp enough so that each instrument can be clearly heard. The guitars provide nonstop dissonant riffs; some tremolo picked, others with a fair amount of groove. Solos are also present throughout, a few adding hints of neoclassical styling. The bass is not as prevalent in the mix as it was in Blasphemy Made Flesh, but it also doesn't feel out of place as it often did on that album.

While the stringed instruments may provide the musical backbone of the band, the show is stolen by drummer Flo Mounier. Mounier essentially gives a 30-minute performance of blast beats and lightning-fast fills, resulting in what is one of the greatest metal drumming albums of all time.

The instruments of the band are brutally heavy, and Worm's vocals are no exception. Imagine the sound of a dozen chainsaws emulated through human vocal cords and you will have what Lord Worm sounds like. There may not be any 40-second screams on this album, but the diversity shown in Worm's growls, grunts, and howls is impressive. His lyrics are also of note; relatively few bands would have such "graceful" lyrics as "Pardon, please, the narrow confinement of your limbs/Unfortunately, it's necessary for your correction/Shriek to your heart's content, if you wish/I promise you pain and nightmares, in that sequence."

This is one of the most brutal albums of all time, and a landmark classic of death metal. Any fan of extreme metal should experience this aural assault at least once.

more than 2 years ago
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UMUR wrote:

more than 2 years ago

LOL. Sounds like I´m gonna listen to this with a lyric sheet in my hand :-)

NorseGangsta wrote:

more than 2 years ago

Thanks for the feedback! Yes, Lord Worm has some amazing lyrics, but none surpass "Pathological Frolic" from Blasphemy Made Flesh; "Fetch the dead sphincter/Cold green meat/How did his ass taste?/Tender and sweet.../And then we fucked it...

J-Man wrote:

more than 2 years ago

LOL that's too funny :-)

Wilytank wrote:

more than 2 years ago

For my money, I actually prefer 'Whisper Supremacy', but this album has its share of badassery. But this line from "Crown of Horns" is too hilarious: "I seek the loving warmth of your anus
As I place my worshipful
Lips about your teats."

J-Man wrote:

more than 2 years ago

...and I almost forgot, great review! You really did a fantastic job at showing how awesome this album is without sounding like an annoying fanboy! LOL

J-Man wrote:

more than 2 years ago

Nice interest! You've definitely grabbed my attention... believe it or not, I still haven't heard this album. Looks like I may need to change that! :-)

UMUR wrote:

more than 2 years ago

Great review. I´ve only given this one sporadic listens, but your review got me more interested in taking a proper listen.