'The Isle Of Disenchantment' is quite easily one of the best, most inventive Metal releases of 2000. Technical, brutal and original, it serves as a faultless lesson in how to execute a devastating debut. Recorded in matter of days on a shoestring budget, the only thing the album lacks is crystal clear production. The musicianship and songwriting is absolutely first rate. The talented Tasmanian quartet of Matthew Chalk (Vocals), Dave Haley (Drums), Joe Haley (Guitar) and Cameron Grant (Bass) have written one of the freshest sounding Death Metal releases since the genre was born, and created the 9 songs capable of absolutely annihilating the hopes and dreams of musicians and vocalist the world over by raising the bar to new, seemingly unnatainable heights.
Cascading technical riffs, bludgeoning brutal and utterly inhuman drumming, frantic bass and suburb vocals combine with deadly precision to create a truly awesome 39-minute album, every second of which sounds so calculated and is excellently executed. 'Carnival Of Vulgarity' kicks things off with a quick example of how ridiculously talented drummer Dave Haley is and also gives a taste of the vocal power of Chalky before Joe Haley unleashes the first of many brilliant riffs as the music then comes into its own. Ensuing tracks are completely crammed with "holy shit that was cool" and "how the fuck can anyone play like that" moments - the biggest standout for me being the 1:42 mark in 'Netherworld Reality'.
Chaotic yet controlled. Unbelievable riffery, razor-sharp, diverse vocals (from earth-shaking gutturals to wretchedly high-pitched screeches), intense bass and absurd drumming (including vicious cymbal-play). Technically titillating, aurally awesome, creative, diverse and just shy of brilliant.
- Pyro
(See reviewer's scoring method)
