The Kovenant - Official Website - Interview


SETI

Norway Country of Origin: Norway

1. Cybertrash
2. Planet Of The Apes
3. Star By Star
4. Via Negativa
5. Stillborn Universe
6. Acid Theatre
7. Perfect End
8. Neon
9. Keepers Of The Garden
10. Pantomime
11. Hollow Earth
12. Industrial Twilight

Review by Adam M on November 11, 2019.

Relinquished perform progressive metal with a heavy dose of death added in.  The music is varied and features a number of dynamic changes to be as interesting as possible.  It features a nice mix up between complex song structures and more impactful death metal moments.  The combination is certainly intriguing and makes for great background music.  The songs are certainly heavy enough and this is a compelling element to a progressive recording.  The vocals are deep and gurgly and don’t really fit with the music completely, but this doesn’t stop them from being somewhat effective. 

Towards the middle of the disc, the music becomes a little strange and loses its focus from the earlier portions, but it is still impactful stuff.  This should appeal to death metal fans of bands like Gorod as much as progressive metal fans and this is largely because of the singing style used and the amount of blast beats present.  The whole affair is very unique sounding and one of a kind which adds to the list of reasons to check this out.  I wish it were a little more consistent, but the music is still quite appealing regardless.   If there are any flaws with the recording its because the weirdness factor prevents the album from really shining and this brings the grade of the band down slightly. 

Still, there are enough worthwhile aspects to Addictivies (Pt. 1) to make it a definite must check out to fans of progressive music in general.  If the music was streamlined slightly and made more digestible, it would be even more successful, but as it stands there are so many good things present that the bad is overshadowed and the album is allowed to breathe.  The meshing of death metal with progressive metal is done in an interesting and entertaining fashion. 

Rating: 7.3 out of 10  

  Views

Review by Michael on June 17, 2003.

Times are a changing up there in the coldness of northern Europe. Bands are getting softer, and the once 'hardcore' are taking their makeup off and experimentation is afoot. It seems since the millennium, the directions and public expectations of bands that once upon a time could release anything 'black,' with any grade production and songwriting, are now having to not only work hard to keep their share of metal territory, but are having to expand musically and vocally to stay afloat. This is a very good thing for what was becoming a slowly stagnating scene.

The Kovenant are most definitely one of the best examples of a band that is willing to take risks when it comes to style. Like them or hate them, they are paving the experimental highway for the bands not willing to make the (what seems to be) gigantic step away from the same old coma inducing black metal the region has become so famed for.

The most recent release from this unique band, entitled "S.E.T.I.," is quite a step forward for the innovative boys from Norway. The only problem is it seems to be a bit of a step sideways too. In making the serious leap forward that they have over the past three albums, The Kovenant seem to have lost sight of an overall direction. Each song as an individual entity is a minor masterpiece, strewn with interesting ideas, rocking guitar lines, solid drums and though at times quite annoying, some pretty innovative and original vocals... but as an entire album, "S.E.T.I." it is a little disjointed. Too many changes, too many ideas and too many directions all being explored at once that can leave the listener feeling a little confused at times. A more simplified approach would have been more effective in capturing the harder and harder to please market. If you incorporate more of the guitar driven grooves The Kovenant are known for on previous releases with the brilliant drum and synth programming on "S.E.T.I." you would have one amazing metal/industrial opus.

The first thing that you notice when you set this album on its maiden voyage is the quality of the production. Everything is crystal clear, and with the amount of synth, programming, samples, vocal lines and various other musical messes, that is quite an achievement in itself. The guitars could use a little more bottom end and could gel with the bass a little better to create a larger sound, though. Even though the album is very well mixed for clarity, it loses points in dynamics. The lack of bottom end makes the finished product a little flat.

Bottom Line: If you like industrial you will like this album. If you like experimental you will like this album. If you like black metal, buy Dimmu Borgir. I'm sure Lex will agree with me.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 7
Atmosphere: 7.5
Production: 8.5
Originality: 8.5
Overall: 7

Rating: 7.7 out of 10

  Views