Misanthropy Pure Review

Release Date: May 27, 2008
Label: Metal Blade
Genres: Alternative Metal
Number Of Tracks: 11
Long standing Hardcore institution returns with an album packed with intricate riffing, paint-peeling vocals and some of the most energized material of their career.

Sound:	8
Lyrics:	7
Impression:	7
Overall rating:	7.3
Users rating:	7.7
Comments:	26

overall: 7.3

Featured review by: UG Team, on may 28, 2008

Sound: Credit must be given to Shai Hulud’s guitarist and primary songwriter, Matt Fox. The only remaining original member of the Metal informed Hardcore band, Fox has kept the group’s name alive through the kinds of membership troubles that normally take down lesser musicians. Instead, the guitarist has taken the frustration, refocused it and channeled into what can arguably be some of Shai Hulud’s most vital material yet. Misanthropy Pure is the sound of a band pushing the boundaries of what technical Hardcore can be. For a unit that’s had it's fair share of shakeups, it’s hardly the kind of album a band running on it's last legs would turn in. Fox’s guitar riffing inspires, showing off some of the best playing he’s done yet. The elastic riff patterns on the title track alone are worth the album download. The cavalcade of twin-guitar harmonies on the spectacular “Four Earths” twist and turn like dueling cobras keeping you wondering where they’ll land next. What truly makes the “math-y” guitar riffing succeed is that they never sound out of place within the context of the overall picture of the songs. Nothing about them makes them seem like they were just thrown in for the sake of flash. A lot of the other bands trying their hand at this kind of style fail miserably when it comes to this aspect. // 8

Lyrics and Singing: With the intricate and propulsive nature of Shai Hulud’s material, the band needed a front man with a commanding presence and keen sense of timing. Enter Matt Mazzali. Although he’s making his debut with the group here, he quickly makes his mark on the menacing, “Venomspreader.” Mazzali’s vocal chords sound like they are laced with shrapnel as they punctuate every syllable with power and vitriol. While many other current Hardcore singers have widened their style with more traditional, melodic vocal sections, Mazzali instead goes for the “harder the better” approach here. The mixing of the band’s technical metal flourishes and his Jamey Jasta-like (Hatebreed) bark makes for a compelling stylistic marriage. Thematically, the album deals with humanity and how we’ve become our own worst enemies. This is an unforgiving mirror pointed right back at us and the words are as pointed as the music is complex. Even though the subject matter is weighty, the wordplay is ornate and full of the kinds of lines that jump off the paper it’s printed on. On “Set Your Body Ablaze, ” Mazzali shrieks, “A product of conceit so absorbed and vain that he thinks himself divine, he is sure to die.” Songs like that are more like indictments than anything else and their honesty should be commended. // 7

Impression: If one would have to choose a word to describe Misanthropy Pure it would definitely be “relentless.” Throughout it's 41 minute duration, track after track hits you over the head like a stack of lead bricks. You aren’t given much of a breathing break because the second one riff barrage ends; the next one comes buzzing out of the speakers. The album could have benefited from a couple of slower tempo tracks to break up the assault. Clearly, Fox set out to make a statement and with the aural assault of songs like “The Creation Ruin” and “In the Mind and Marrow.” His intentions come through loud and clear. The addition of former Rorschach and Kiss It Goodbye drummer Andrew Gormley on drums proves to be a perfect choice as his primal yet precise style falls in perfectly with Shai Hulud’s mode of attack. Gormley’s footwork on the faster material and ability to shadow the complex guitar and bass figures is truly inspired. Fans of his performances here should seek out his other current project, Playing Enemy. But as stellar as his appearance on Misanthropy Pure is, it’s clear that Fox and his explosive guitar playing is the jewel in the crown. // 7

- Carlos Ramirez (c) 2009

Comments

[OldHairyOne]

'Mazzali’s vocal chords'

He can sing chords?!

[solopractice]

lol nvr heard of these guys. and ur joke is kinda lame lol

[Gregray88]

That cover looks to much the AILD's An Ocean Between Us cover.

[Andy Reierson]

shai hulud used to be great. now they are just good.

[nolanxxx]

dude if he can sing chords i'm ****ing impressed...that's hard ass shit to do. I only rarely can get it..and than i only sing G#6th Add 8. wierd chord...but it's still fun.

[OThugSd]

First of all, they mean vocal cords, secondly, if you haven't heard of Shai Hulud, you've been living under a rock. And lastly, this album isn't as good as their old stuff, but it's a lot better than most of the newer bands that are trying to copy the oldschool Shai Hulud vibe.

[salsawords]

Eh, they sound like pop/post punk with hardcore vocals. The pitch of the vocals is like the same note the whole song (the title track) and there's just not a lot of variation. The review makes it sound a million times more brutal than it actually is. The riffing is not intricate or technical, it sounds like an emo band's riffing. Overall it's not very good.

[alkaline388]

They ruined Anesthesia...

[Mattylightning]

OThugSd wrote:

First of all, they mean vocal cords, secondly, if you haven't heard of Shai Hulud, you've been living under a rock. And lastly, this album isn't as good as their old stuff, but it's a lot better than most of the newer bands that are trying to copy the oldschool Shai Hulud vibe.

thank you! someone awesome who finally understands it!

[ShrimpthePimp]

I guess i've been living under a rock..i'll go check them out.

[Sublime Stylee]

the songs seem sweet but constant hardcore singing just gives me a headache...

[Guitar Skater]

my bands playign a show with them soon

[IlikeTheSKA]

^what a toolbag.

I'll be checking this out shortly. Hopefully I'll like it as much as their older material.

[vIsIbleNoIsE]

nolanxxx wrote:

dude if he can sing chords i'm ****ing impressed...that's hard ass shit to do. I only rarely can get it..and than i only sing G#6th Add 8. wierd chord...but it's still fun.

didn't know that was possible, man

didn't know that was possible.

[output24]

vIsIbleNoIsE wrote:

nolanxxx wrote:

dude if he can sing chords i'm ****ing impressed...that's hard ass shit to do. I only rarely can get it..and than i only sing G#6th Add 8. wierd chord...but it's still fun.

didn't know that was possible, man

didn't know that was possible.

Man, he was freaking kidding.

And to that douche who says hardcore is gay, then stop listening and leave us alone in our breakdowns.

[TiDyCaTT900]

I dont really dig hardcore either..Ive never heard of this band, death/prog metal fan myself.
OK...ive never really shuned somebody for what they said on here but..the guy that said hardcore has talent just listen to Converge or Between the Buried and Me..i dunno..Ive heard two or three of both of those bands songs, And , I really thought the Converge song was a joke..like the raido was playing a joke on me, I thought it wasnt real music..lol it was so horrible..sorry if you like them..its just a diffent look on it.

[TiDyCaTT900]

ugh..Im gonna get so burned for that lol

Checked!
Don't Spam!

[undeaded]

When are bands gonna realise...Metalcore is dying. Adapt or become extinct. Unless you're one of the genre's high rollers, not a chance.

[undeaded]

Having said that, they seem to be doing something different. Mixing melodic guitars with a very Hatebreed-esque vocals. I think I may just get this album.

[seventyXseven]

salsawords wrote:

Eh, they sound like pop/post punk with hardcore vocals. The pitch of the vocals is like the same note the whole song (the title track) and there's just not a lot of variation. The review makes it sound a million times more brutal than it actually is. The riffing is not intricate or technical, it sounds like an emo band's riffing. Overall it's not very good.

How about you shut up and understand the meaning of the "hardcore" genre...Shai Hulud wrote one of the most outstanding hardcore records ever. A Profound Hatred of Man. This may not be better but your making yourself seem like and idiot for calling them pop/post punk

[salsawords]

seventyXseven wrote:

salsawords wrote:

Eh, they sound like pop/post punk with hardcore vocals. The pitch of the vocals is like the same note the whole song (the title track) and there's just not a lot of variation. The review makes it sound a million times more brutal than it actually is. The riffing is not intricate or technical, it sounds like an emo band's riffing. Overall it's not very good.

How about you shut up and understand the meaning of the "hardcore" genre...Shai Hulud wrote one of the most outstanding hardcore records ever. A Profound Hatred of Man. This may not be better but your making yourself seem like and idiot for calling them pop/post punk

I didn't call them pop/post punk, I said they sound like it. I claimed no understanding of hardcore, I was just saying what I think it sounds like, dildo.

[xfuryx]

Andy Reierson wrote:

shai hulud used to be great. now they are just good.

couldn't be said any better than that, MetalBlade is shaping them into something that's not them, they need to set some good tours with REAL hardcore bands, not Opeth.

[mwwdlsc]

salsawords wrote:

Eh, they sound like pop/post punk with hardcore vocals. The pitch of the vocals is like the same note the whole song (the title track) and there's just not a lot of variation. The review makes it sound a million times more brutal than it actually is. The riffing is not intricate or technical, it sounds like an emo band's riffing. Overall it's not very good.

shut up doosh, ur just angry cuz you got buttraped by FOX's riffs.

[mwwdlsc]

xfuryx wrote:

Andy Reierson wrote:

shai hulud used to be great. now they are just good.

couldn't be said any better than that, MetalBlade is shaping them into something that's not them, they need to set some good tours with REAL hardcore bands, not Opeth.

first off, opeth ****in rocks. second, shai hulud used to be better to some people. I think they're just as good, they're just shifting gears, every band has the right to change as time goes on, and they're taking advantage of that change, and i applaud them for it.

[zombiexcore]

*shrugs*
I think it's a good record.
Not a perfect 10, but good.