Welcome to Rock Music Critic! Check out reviews in the Flash menu above or the static links below. This latest version of the site now includes reviews with an embedded music player so you can listen to whole albums once for free courtesy of Lala.com. Lala doesn't always have an album, but when they do I will include the player. What's easier than listening to an album to decide whether you like it? Feel free to ignore my petty ramblings and just listen to the tunes. That's really the whole point anyway. Up the Irons!! ~ George
Old Mans Child
In Defiance of Existence
I've been a fan of Old Man's Child for some years now, ever since "Born of the Flickering" first came out. Over the years the band has progressed nicely, and consistently put out what I consider to be kick ass albums. Galder, now also of Dimmu Borgir, has recruited Dimmu-mate Nick Barker to drum on this new CD, and I think that's great. Nick Barker, formerly of Cradle of Filth, is one of the best drummers in this genre as far as I'm concerned. He is brutal. Reminiscent of Gene Hoglan, skin basher god of yester years.
Some of the black metal alumni bands have taken a turn down a more commercial path lately (and I like a lot of their new work too) but not Old Man's Child. The production is better, and there are lots of little melodic spots, but this is still really heavy, really brutal music.
The production is better than on some of their earlier albums. Everything is much more clear and distinct. It has a real somber mood too it.
I really like the guitar playing on this CD. On so many black and death albums the guitars are an indistinct wall of noise. On this CD the guitars are clear enough that you can discern actual notes most of the time.
In some ways this reminds me of Diabolical Masquerade's "Nightwork" album. This is a good thing.
Unfortunately, most black metal albums seem to clock in at a rather short play time, and this one is no exception. The only complaint I have about this CD is that there isn't MORE OF IT. It clocks in at slightly less than 40 minutes. Better than most in the genre, but still kind of short when you compare it to bands like Type O Negative who jam the CD with as much music as it can possibly hold.
So anyway, yeah, if you like Old Man's Child I don't think you will be disappointed by this CD. Unless you are some kind of purist who likes to bitch about every little detail and claim so-and-so is not real black metal because blah blah blah. If this is you, get off your high horse and shut the hell up. Whatever you want to call it, this CD is well worth the purchase price.
