Believer (Progressive Thrash/Death)

[contest_sanity]

Been listening to these guys since the mid-90's.  They were kinda in with some bands such as Cynic and Bolt Thrower in the early to mid 90's, even though they were a "Christian" group.  They broke up in 1994/95, only to reconvene sometime in 2005. They released Gabriel in 2009 and just came out with their latest, Transhuman, a few weeks ago; since they've come back, the Christian themes are almost completely absent from their lyrics, which is interesting.  I'll link to a few different songs, as their style has progressed:

"Idols Of Ignorance" (1990).  Off probably their most technical album (and still my favorite), Sanity Obscure, this song is amazing, especially the riff at 2:24.  If Metal Militia were a real thing, then that riff would be its marching song:

https://grooveshark.com/#/s/Idols+Of+Ignornace/2qdPe7?src=5

"Focused Lethality" (2009). Off of Gabriel, more just straight-up thrash.  

https://grooveshark.com/#/s/Focused+Lethality/3pxwfG?src=5

"G.U.T." (2011). Off of Transhuman.  Definitely a bit of a departure as the vocalist is doing some real singing, and there is less straight-up thrash.  Still really good, and it's part of a concept album on the intersection of humanity and technology/science.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3zBY4ObGvM&feature=player_embedded

   

[Ultimetalhead]

This is....awesome. 

[contest_sanity]

This is....awesome. 

Cool.  I figured you at least might like it.  I know it's not everyone's cup of tea, especially the vocals.

[Ultimetalhead]

The vocals, especially on the newer material remind me of Destruction's singer, so I'm accustomed to similar styles. There's plenty worse in the thrash circles, I'm sure most would agree.

Listening to Sanity Obscure now.

[zxlkho]

This is pretty damn awesome except for the horrendous vocals.

[contest_sanity]

This is pretty damn awesome except for the horrendous vocals.

Listen to the Transhuman stuff; at least he attempts singing.  On the earlier stuff, though, the music was just so good that I could ignore the vocals.  Not a band I can listen to all the time, though, precisely because the vox do eventually take their toll on me.

Listening to Sanity Obscure now.

Such a great, yet very unknown, album.  Let me know what you think.

[Ultimetalhead]

It was really, really good. I'm surprised they didn't get more recognition among bands like Cynic and Atheist.

Honestly, it'd be funny as shit if Atheist and Believer were the headliners of the tech-death/thrash scene.

[contest_sanity]

It was really, really good. I'm surprised they didn't get more recognition among bands like Cynic and Atheist.

Honestly, it'd be funny as shit if Atheist and Believer were the headliners of the tech-death/thrash scene.

Yes!  They did get some promotion from Roadrunner grouped together with those bands.  They got a little mainstream press but that's about it.  I think I read once that Lars liked them.  They're definitely known amongst some newer bands, though -- like the singer from Killswitch sang on a song from Gabriel because he had listened to them growing up.  I try to pimp them when I can because practically no one has heard of them.  Sanity Obscure is IMO their best (some of the riffs are just mind-boggling) but everything they've done is really good.  I'm just hearing the new one, but I like the new experimentation, I think.  Anyway, glad you liked them.  Now we should get Lat on board.  

[Ultimetalhead]

He's got a song roulette coming up, so I'll hit him with it.

LAT DON'T LISTEN TO THIS BAND YET K?