Requiem Aeternam - Philosopher reviews

"PHILOSOPHER" REVIEWS:

"...it is totally clear that the level they exhibit in this extreme Death Progressive (in which, like main weapon, it appears the total breakage of schemes and atmospheres with accomplished mezzo acoustic passages that get intermingled with the bases) does not have anything (but truly anything) to envy to international bands speaking of technical sound, lyrics, art, production, or people in charge."

EL CORTE ON LINE (ARGENTINA)

"...one of the more fascinating and intricate styles of composition that metal music has fertilized in the River Plate territory..."

MAELSTROM (ARGENTINA)

"...originality is a good adjective for Requiem Aeternam's music because they surprise on each track with new elements and ideas. The combination of different metal styles is the essence here and this album shows how you can combine multiple ideas cleverly obtaining a great result."

MUSIC EXTREME (ARGENTINA)

"The truth is that I am surprised not very often, and Requiem Aeternam is one of them... The 8 tracks that the CD brings have all the force, where you can notice the dedication of the band in each one of them. The sound quality and the composition are for high consideration at the time of knowing new bands, and it is not to let pass this opportunity to check them out."

TEMPLARIOS (ARGENTINA)

"The song structures are all unique and often turbulent in transition from section to section, leaving the album always interesting and completely unorthodox."

NOISE THEORY (AUSTRALIA)

"The album itself is one of the more original releases of the year and comes close to being stylistically indefinable. The music is clearly quite technical with rapid changes and abnormal time signatures but integrates so many other elements that the end result is somewhat of a mega-fusion of metal styles and one that's been pulled off exceptionally well... Requiem Aeternam know exactly what they're doing and are as talented as their sound is unique. If the sound of black-flavoured technical metal whets your musical appetite, 'Philosopher' should more than satisfy your burning hunger. Great stuff."

PYROMUSIC (AUSTRALIA)

"...a mature and professional album, showing an evolution in relation to the LP 'Eternally Dying'."

AND HEAVY METAL FOR ALL (BRAZIL)

"...interesting and very competent work of Requiem Aeternam!!!"

METAL ATTACK (BRAZIL)

"...first I would like to say that this is one of the more complex album I heard in all these years of devotion to Metal, either in musical complexity as for lyrical context... It is very difficult to explain what happens in this record, so buy it and try to understand, I am certain that you will not regret it!"

METAL VOX (BRAZIL)

"This is a band that will leave its mark in the South American metal and with certainty you will hear much speech about it."

METAL ZONE (BRAZIL)

"If you want to hear something truly different inside of Metal, but with a very good quality, unglue this record and make your own conclusions."

NOVO METAL (BRAZIL)

"The biggest Uruguayan Extreme Metal band of all times..."

ROCK UNDERGROUND (BRAZIL)

"Everything on this album is different; you will find heaviness, melody, aggressiveness, reflection and intelligent themes. Competent band worthy to be recognized by media and public. Then, buy now this excellent record."

SOUNDS OF BATTLE (BRAZIL)

"...I havent heard an album this strong start to finish in a longtime!"

ALBERTA METAL (CANADA)

"Requiem Aeternam are the band who are worthy of the praise Opeth get. Oddly enough, this band once featured two Opeth dudes? Helping out on drums on this opus is Alex Hernandez, ex-Immolation guy, who puts in a stellar performance. The songs are ambitious, epic and intelligent, without becoming overbearing; progressive metal (but not prog metal!) that ventures into the land of death and the realm of the mellow with equal amounts of ease. Reminds me of mid-to-late era Death. It?s a lot to take in, and I?m not crazy on some of the clean vocals (the pained, Gorguts-esque screams more than make up for that), but there?s enough diversity and talented musicianship here..."

BRAVE WORDS & BLOODY KNUCKLES (CANADA)

"The first time I got the chance to hear that band and all I have to say is WOW! Definitely not for everyone... This album is all about contrast and I love it! The progressive elements are strong all along the album, even if that can be hard to listen to it from the beginning to the end. Do so and you'll feel that your brain will work 100%! ? One thing for sure is that those musicians are all high caliber. Those guys know exactly what they're doing. Just listen to the drum & guitar parts and you'll know what I mean. Tempo changes, subtleties after subtleties, harmonies, etc... I just finished listening to that album and my brain's tired! Listen to it and you'll know what I mean!"

DARKEST HOURS (CANADA)

"The Album Philosopher by Requiem Aeternam is nothing short of a metal masterpiece! From the opening riff of track one Rectitude I was blown away. Combining several styles of metal music yet sounding refreshingly new this band has spawned an album that sets itself apart in the copycat field of pretenders in metal music today... Drummer Alex Hernandez (ex Immolation) provides a virtual drum clinic through out the whole album yet it does not over power the music yet adds the necessary power and emotion to each track. Bassist Maciej Kupiszewski weaves brilliant bass lines and adds such a think dimension to this album that you get lost audio tapestry. Jose Romero guitarist and vocalist handles both duties with a standout performance both guitars and vocals fit into each song adding the appropriate emotion and tone for each. Not to be forgotten is the stellar songwriting, each song on the album is based on a specific philosopher like Seneca, Heraclitus, Tzu, Gautama, Rousseau, Kierkegaard and Nietzsche. A very formidable background for writing inspiration to be sure and what makes this album stand apart even more... The Band describes its music as 'Dialectical Metal' I would agree on that but would add it also ?Must Own Metal!? I know I sound like a butt kisser on this review but I am so impressed with it I can't help myself. Buy it and you will agree that?s my guarantee!"

METALNETRADIO.COM (CANADA)

"10/10 - Perfectly beautiful piece of music... Overall, this album kicks ass. It is more than worth whatever you would pay for it. A definitely amazing album."

ONTARIO METAL DOT NET (CANADA)

"First off, I'd like to say that this is one of the most unique albums I've heard in quite some time. When I first listened to this album, it immediately grabbed my attention. There was no turning back, it had been such a long time since I listened to an album so well constructed and compelling. This album contains everything you would expect from a metal album and even travels beyond most of people's expectations. Not to mention that this release is very creative in many ways. Everything seems to flow so well. They really know how to experiment with metal. Some songs start off with a slow rhythm but pick up the pace and start getting fast then the double bass starts pounding the shit out of your speakers. Others start off fast and get even better as you listen through the album. Some songs are sung in a slow pattern and some are sung in a grueling sort of growling way. Which was part of the reason I love this album so much. You can notice right away once you start listening to this cd that there is a lot of thought put behind this. And it?s definitely something to respect. And what makes such a good metal cd. If you are a true metal head and are up to the challenge of adding a new blend of metal taste to your collection, please do yourself the favor of buying this masterpiece. You will not regret it."

REVIEW4U.ORG (CANADA)

"With only one album and one EP released prior to 'Philosopher', Requiem Aeternam has established themselves as a talented and unique bunch."

SACRED EMBRACE (CANADA)

"The musicianship on this effort is unparalleled; the guitar playing is top notch and technical, same with the bass and this is by far Alex Hernandez's best work behind the drum kit. The lyrical subject matter is also rather unique and interesting, as Jose also happens to be a bit of a philosopher himself..."

TEUFEL?S TOMB (CANADA)

"Requiem Aeternam complements its ambitious textual undertaking with music that is similarly formidable in scope and high-minded in concept."

UNRESTRAINED (CANADA)

"Very exceptional cases in Latin America show a capacity of creation and innovation as the Uruguayan trio Requiem Aeternam..."

ACERO (ECUADOR)

"...one of the most innovating bands of South America..."

MUSICA HIBRIDA (ECUADOR)

"As a three-piece Requiem Aeternam pull of shit I haven't heard anywhere else in the history of metal with this experi-blackened-death-jazz-tech-melodic fusion. This band is destined to end up in that sacred Bethlehem/Akercocke realm where only a few thousand die-hards worldwide actually get it and buy every frickin' vinyl, demo, 8track, cassette and cd this band squeezes out. Brilliant, but so disjointed and weird that it loses it's steam at times. A little more cohesive song writing and they'll straight up be metal gods. Can't wait for the follow up. One of the most impressive debuts I've heard in years."

METAL MAYHEM (ENGLAND)

"...this is a highly original and ambitious work. This band has developed their own distinct sound and creates a strange and progressive trip through metal."

ULTIMATE METAL (ENGLAND)

"There's plenty of technical mastery being performed by everyone and the end result is pretty damn impressive."

METAL OBSERVER (GERMANY)

"One of the most promising, extreme progressive bands from the South American Continent... The overall sound is very hard to describe as this trio is a very unique, sophisticated mix of Black / Death and traditional Heavy Metal and found probably its very own sound in the Metal universe. You can hear tight blasts, aggressive double bass parts, melodic harmonies & leads, staccato riffing, twisted rhythms, acoustic and calm parts and much other stuff on 'Philosopher'... It's very rich of variation and contrasts and they put so many elements in one single song than some bands on a whole album... but it works... The production is flawless and dynamic, leaves nothing to be desired. 'Philosopher' is a very mature, outstanding album..."

VOICES FROM THE DARKSIDE (GERMANY)

"When you have in your line up Alex Hernandez (Immolation) for sure you will have an excellent rhythm section. Besides this one, the band did an excellent work in all the sections of this release. When you listen to their material more than two, three times, then you understand how much they have worked their compositions through these years."

METAL INVADER (GREECE)

"The end result is one of the more interesting albums I've heard this year... Theirs is a sound I've never really heard attempted..."

METAL REVIEW (GREECE)

"Requiem Aeternam just doesn't fit any label and it's very tough to compare it with other bands... I can fully 100% say I'm holding an innovating masterpiece in my hands... All songs on this record balance perfectly between furious anger and melancholic beauty... And for me this is an album to remember for the year lists of 2005. It would rate this album 98 out of 100 points!"

VAMPIRE (HOLLAND)

"...the South American band plays an original and technical mixture of death and prog, whose irresistible instrumental coils weave with precious vocal melodies..."

SILENT SCREAM (ITALY)

"No doubt that it is material of quality."

AD ARMA (LITHUANIA)

"...the arrangements that appear in each of the tracks... are simply extraordinary..."

METAL HEAD (PERU)

"Requiem Aeternam is one of the more original bands that it is possible to listen in South America. Since they came out with his first album 'Eternally Dying', they gave much to speak in all the metal press of this continent, and now they present their last creation 'Philosopher', that left me with my mouth opened and made me think, 'at what evolutionary level some bands can arrive'."

METALLERIUM (PERU)

"Their music is mellow, intelligent, aggressive, nostalgic, sad, depressive and everything in between, ranging from fast and raw to complex, experimental and intertwined musical structures, in a nutshell, eclectic at its best, always fluctuating in a diversity of emotions and musical passages that any fan of well crafted music will love and admire."

TARTAREAN DESIRE (SWEDEN)

"...totally original album and practically the band cannot be compared to any other, something more that speaks well of this people of South America."

ZONA NEGRA (URUGUAY)

"This is a pretty maniacal album by 3 guys who are into a fair amount of progression in their sound. But the guitar work is pretty great on this. ...these guys would be really cool to see live."

AEA (USA)

"Thoughtful, intelligent, unique, and compelling, do yourself a favor and check out some Requiem Aeternam."

ANTIMUSIC (USA)

"The band is very original and captivating."

BALLBUSTER / METAL CORE (USA)

"This South American band has created a beautiful metal masterpiece with this album... Need a nice change to your metal collection? This will give a wonderful element to your music. This is definitely a recommended recording."

CRAVE (USA)

"Requiem Aeternam's 'Philosopher' is bound to be one of the surprise hits of the year. And definitely one of my favorites already."

CRITICAL METAL (USA)

"This is a rich album which will likely turn a lot of people off due to its cerebral qualities..."

DEADTIDE (USA)

"The reward is one of the most engaging albums you?ve heard since Still Life... Requiem Aeternam's delivery is perfectly implemented... Had I heard Philosopher earlier it would have easily flirted with my top albums of 2004, but as it stands, I still give it a hearty recommendation for one of the undiscovered gems of the past couple of years."

DIGITAL METAL (USA)

"The back cover of this album shows three very humble looking guys sitting on the steps of some old cathedral. They look pretty chilled out and non confrontational. It must be the look of satisfaction you get after recording a small masterpiece like this record right here! ...These guys must practice four times a week for hours to achieve the level of precision they display on this recording. The vocals are completely tortured and frantic. Fans of Discordance Axis and the like would find this album to be a great listen. There are a few parts where they wander into almost radio rock territory, which is so weird that it works very well. All around original and worth picking up..."

DISPOSABLE UNDERGROUND (USA)

EAR CANDY (USA)

"New York's Requiem Aeternam, with its awesome line-up of former Immolation drummer Alex Hernandez, guitarist and vocalist Jose Romero and bassist Maciej Kupiszewski have written the most original record the heavy metal world has encountered yet."

EXPLICITLY INTENSE (USA)

"I could cop out and just leave off after describing this as eclectic melodic brutal technicality. It encompasses all of these adjectives (and one noun) in its sound and the resulting construction is an audio architectural marvel. Sudden but unjarring shifts between ...dark folk moments and heavy but precise black metal menace and the blend of intense melody and intense metalness all work together to produce one of the more creative and accessible pieces of metal around. The vocals, like the instrumentals, shift from startlingly well-sung passages and throat-ripping stylizations... Bright and creative."

FISHCOM COLLECTIVE (USA)

"This is one of those bands that has super talent and know how to push the mellowness boundaries."

HAMMERHEAD (USA)

"This is one of the greatest South American bands, ever. This concept album is extremely entertaining, diverse and sonically appealing. The vocals are strange and may take some time getting used to, but they add to the mystique and the overall feel of the album. Philosopher is dark and haunting with tons of time changes and intricate syncopation on every track. The drumming (Alex Hernandez ? formerly of Immolation) is precise, unexpected and perfectly matched with the tone and sophisticated subject matter. The harmonizing of the guitar and bass create a magic unmatched - even in most Swedish melodic death masterpieces. ?Wisdom? is exact and technical, while still managing to be beautiful and haunting. Though hard to understand due to the Uruguayan accent, Philosopher also has some of the most enlightened lyrics ever conceived for extreme metal."

HARDER BEAT (USA)

"Requiem Aeternam go far beyond any other band in terms of open-mindedness that they just have to be recognized... Requiem Aeternam have crafted a masterpiece of music and lyrical creativity... Philosopher is a great album and highly recommended."

JACKAL BLASTER (USA)

"I'm not sure if I buy Romero's whole bag of bookish whatnot, the fact that the guy is a thinker comes out in the thoughtful compositions. This is definitely a good one."

LIVE 4 METAL (USA)

"...these guys are phenomenal musicians."

MAXIMUM METAL (USA)

"Requiem Aeternam's 'Philosopher' is a fantastic album, one I wish I had heard in time to include it on my top ten metal albums of 2004."

METAL COVEN (USA)

"All fans of death and black metal should appreciate Requiem Aeternam's latest opus."

METAL FANATIX (USA)

"...this band's growth is obvious..."

METAL MANIACS (USA)

"Have you listened to Requiem Aeternam yet? If not then you're missing an incredibly unique album... When speaking of originality. Philosopher has to be one of the most original sounding albums I have heard in quite some time... Extremely impressive!"

METAL REIGNS (USA)

"Minor gripes aside, Requiem Aeternam have put South America back on the metallic map and given me a reason to remain optimistic when considering the future of heavy metal. Considering that this is only their second full-length, I can't help but believe that the best is yet to come. Should this prophesy be fulfilled, these guys will surely become a household name in the near future."

METAL REVIEWS (USA)

"They were one of South America's most promising bands. Now here in America, we can also call them one of the most promising black metal bands here."

METAL WARRANTS (USA)

"...their talent and accomplishment shines."

MOURNING THE ANCIENT (USA)

"1995 marked the beginning of one of South America's most popular metal bands, Requiem Aeternam."

1 HEAVY METAL (USA)

"South America has given us some pretty cool metal over the years, they likes of Sepultura, Sarcofago, and Criminal to name a few, but this new opus really takes the cake? This slab of musical experience has created something new, and while it might not be for everyone, it has struck a chord with me... This musicianship is outstanding... The depth here is astounding, the layers of sound and the use of multiple languages and narrative parts are sure to set this trio above the rest."

PEACE DOG MAN (USA)

"...this band pulls off maneuvers unheard of anywhere else in the history of metal. They are Dream Theater caliber in their technical ability, and just as intent on pushing the boundaries to new thresholds."

PIT (USA)

"Requiem Aeternam's sound is like no other's, mixing black metal and death metal riffs with Latin-driven rhythms and acoustic guitars."

PIVOTAL RAGE (USA)

"It's crafty, keeps me at a loss for words and definitely has the bill for originality and not your typical Metal band."

QUINTESSENCE METAL (USA)

"The bottom line is that the more time you spend with Requiem Aeternam's 'Philosopher' the more rewarded you are."

ROUGH EDGE (USA)

"Scratching my head, I don't even know where to begin. There is no way to do a song by song analysis without turning this review into a short story with an index, multiple chapters and footnotes. I would advise upon purchase that the listener grab his/her best pair of headphones and completely lose themselves in this monumental piece of music. Wait until later to break it down song by song, you?re better off that way... I've never heard of this label, but I'd say it's safe to say they've got a winner here. Good job to all involved."

ROYAL CARNAGE (USA)

"Requiem Aeternam's latest release is a varied and impressive metal platter that is at times brutal as well as delicate? Each song has a decidedly different feel, which helps to take the listener on a journey that is never tiresome of clich?"

SEA OF TRANQUILITY (USA)

"It's technical and intricate, powerful and heavy hitting, with some of the fastest drumming I've ever heard, and really chaotic chords. Requiem Aeternam have created a wonderful album that should have the Metal world scratching its head while banging it at the same time. I would recommend this to EVERYONE!"

SEAS OF EVIL (USA)

"Technically blissful and strangely intriguing, guitar virtuoso fans and extreme metal followers alike will be able to appreciate the entire eight-track collection for its beautifully-arranged cacophony, as well as for its shredding guitar tactics. Requiem Aeternam is already a huge outfit in their native country, and while they will probably be shunned by the mainstream, the thirsty underground metal scene should embrace this disc with open arms."

SKRATCH (USA)

"Gold stars all around."

SLEAZEGRINDER (USA)

"Uruguay's heaviest export Requiem Aeternam consist of some of metal?s most important members including members of Opeth, Amon Amarth, [Immolation] and Inner Sanctum. This concept album is certainly very unique in the metal arena with each track based on the work of a specific philosopher including Rousseau, Heraclitus, Tzu, Nietzsche, Seneca, Gautama, and Kierkegaard. Extreme metal is going to have to stop and catch its breath after Requiem Aeternam is done with it and after the success of their debut 'Eternally Dying' in ?98 it should have already been prepared for such an onslaught."

SMOTHER (USA)

"This band is freakin weird. But also freakin good... Classifying this band would be a waste of time, all their songs are different, and even within the boundaries of 'songs' they twist and turn the music into a million different tempos/styles/molds."

STEREO KILLER (USA)

"The band is very interesting. You have the speed, the thrash, the extreme double bass with all this other intricacies added to the mix."

THE BALTIMORE BUZZ (USA)

"1995 marked the beginning of one of South America's most popular metal bands... Requiem Aeternam now relocated from South America to New York, where they commenced an invasion of the U.S. music scene."

THE GREAT NOTHING (USA)

"This is perhaps the best metal album I've heard in years. Requiem Aeternam are highly creative and Philosopher sounds awesome... I can't say enough about this band, which should be huge. Philosopher is one of the most rewarding listening experiences I've encountered."

TRASCENDING THE MUNDANE (USA)

"Give this band a listen!!!"

TREATS FROM THE UNDERGROUND (USA)

"'Philosopher' is a masterpiece of excellent, intelligent metal... This will be one of the best purchases you ever make."

UNCHAIN THE UNDERGROUND (USA)

"The band plays melodic black metal, with extreme and clean vocals. With no keyboards and once featuring two members from Opeth, this is an interesting interchange for all the fans of melodic black metal."

CENTURY MEDIA (USA)

"Spanglish Doom-ridden dialectical metal album."

VILLAGE VOICE (USA)

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