Hypocrisy – A Taste Of Extreme Divinity

It has been four long years since the last album of Hypocrisy entitled ”Virus”. In the meantime, the band’s mastermind and soul Peter Tagtgren found enough time to record several albums with his other project, Pain. Fans were in deep concern of what was about to follow, as they hadn’t been absent for so long again in the past. It now seems that all this delay was for good, for the new album of the Swedish trio with the great title ”A Taste Of Extreme Divinity” is one of the best they have done in their whole career.

Very close to the result of ”Virus”, Hypocrisy prove once more that when they have inspiration, they can write killer stuff and leave us with mouths open and jaws dropped to the ground. The album enters with ”Valley Of The Damned”, an up tempo tune that gets us straight to the point of what follows in the next 50 minutes: Fresh and modern production (without being cheesy or overcleaned), heavy guitars, pounding drumming by Horgh (whose entrance seems to have given new life to the group) and Peter out of control as usually. Everything we have got used to through the years is there, fast ones, mid tempo heaviness, experimental sounds and above all, honesty and adjustment to the likes of the end of the ’00s.

It is really nominable how up to the point the album sounds, just like ”Virus” did. It seems that only a few months passed after the previous album, and not four long years. I am sure fans are going to love this record, whose songs were written in such a way to work perfectly live. ”Weed Out The Weak” is going to grab your neck and throw it to the wall, we weren’t that used in blastbeats the last decade. Until the finale of this effort with ”Sky Is Falling Down”, you will get the feeling to listen to this album as soon as possible. You will also have a need to see the band live during the upcoming tour, they are in perfect shape and more alive than ever.

This is a proof that great bands, apart from genres or countries, can always find a solution to overcome problems and return to glorious dayes. The days of ”Penetralia” or ”Osculum Obscenum” are over for more than 15 years, Hypocrisy have changed many faces since then. They have done mistakes just like anybody could or would do, but I am in place to state that the real Hypocrisy is back after ”Into The Abyss” of 2000 more convincingly and willing to prove their worth. Don’t miss one of the best albums of the year. You will find more to it in each new listening for sure.