HADES — $avior$elf (review)

HADES — $avior$elf album cover Album · 1998 · Thrash Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3/5 ·
UMUR
"$avior$elf" is the 4th full-length studio album by US power/thrash metal act Hades. The album was released through Metal Blade Records in January 1999. It´s the successor to "Exist to Resist" from 1995 and features two lineup changes since the predecessor as drummer Tom Coombs has been replaced by Dave Lescinsky and bassist Jimmy Schulmann has been replaced by Scott LePage.

Lineup changes or not the material on "$avior$elf" sound like a natural progression of the US power/groove metal style of "Exist to Resist (1995)"...or maybe progression is the wrong word to use here, as there actucally hasn´t been that much progression, and continuation is probably a more correct word to use. It´s still fairly standard quality (for the genre) material with lead vocalist Alan Tecchio being the one thing standing out in the soundscape. The instrumental performances are relatively strong, but although there are some nice heavy grooves in the music, and the occasional moment with a catchy riff or vocal phrase, the material is generally not that memorable. So it´s the songwriting which is lacking in hooks and memorability. Tecchio is a world class singer, and it´s really too bad that his considerable vocal skills aren´t put to use on better quality material.

It´s not really a surprise as that´s been the case on all preceding releases too, and unfortunately the trend of sub par production jobs also continue here. The bass drum sound on "$avior$elf" is simply an abomination. Thin, triggered, clicky, and adding absolutely no heaviness to music which otherwise screams for exactly that. A 3 star (60%) rating is warranted.
Share this review
more

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Metal Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

MMA TOP 5 Metal ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
Master of Puppets Thrash Metal
METALLICA
Buy this album from our partners
Paranoid Heavy Metal
BLACK SABBATH
Buy this album from our partners
Moving Pictures Hard Rock
RUSH
Buy this album from our partners
Powerslave NWoBHM
IRON MAIDEN
Buy this album from our partners
Rising Heavy Metal
RAINBOW
Buy this album from our partners

New Metal Artists

New Metal Releases

Ingräte Metalcore
INGRÄTE
Buy this album from MMA partners
Fossil Gardens Black Metal
HAIL SPIRIT NOIR
Buy this album from MMA partners
Из Чего Я Состою Crust Punk
MARIE GUELLA
Buy this album from MMA partners
Surowica / Slavenkust Hardcore Punk
SLAVENKUST
Buy this album from MMA partners
Surowica / Slavenkust Crust Punk
SUROWICA
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Metal Online Videos

HAIL SPIRIT NOIR - The Temple Of Curved Space (Official Track Stream)
HAIL SPIRIT NOIR
adg211288· 2 hours ago
In Sulfur - The Gate (OFFICIAL VIDEO) 2022
IN SULFUR
Bosh66· 23 hours ago
In Sulfur - Parasite (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO)
IN SULFUR
Bosh66· 23 hours ago
In Sulfur - Abysmal Grave (OFFICIAL LYRIC VIDEO)
IN SULFUR
Bosh66· 23 hours ago
In Sulfur - Windchaser(OFFICIAL VIDEO)
IN SULFUR
Bosh66· 23 hours ago
More videos

New MMA Metal Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Metal News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed