Having followed Joe's career for a long time, it was apparent a while back he was honing in on a more designated path, a path which is damned good. So what does he do on his new offering, 'Grimoire'? He veers off down a new avenue but, of course, it wouldn't be Joe if changes aren't constant although I honestly thought he had found a set path. What about 'Grimoire', how does it sound and how does it work? Bloody brilliant, if you ask me! Read on and see what I mean.
'Brother Of The Silver Star' starts off the proceedings and what a beginning it is. Cinematic, esoteric and sinister it leads into 'Sedition' perfectly. It rips from the word-go keeping the music mid-paced yet full of hooks and melody. Vocally it reminds me of Tobias Forge singing stripped down metal. Retaining the melodic and mid-tempo approach but in a Killing Joke setting, 'Paimon' is one of my favourite tracks on the album. Joe pulls off a wonderful solo in there which heightens the song even more. The title track, 'Grimoire' follows and it picks up a bit while still moving within the Jaz Coleman and company sphere. Goes punk/ Voivod in the middle, which is brilliant. Great song! Stripped bare, reflective and kind of dejected 'Sisyphus' is true to its name. Screw around too much and for too long with people, you'll end up stuck eternally in your own private hell. 'Baphomethod' is a strange beast moving between different tempos and styles although the prevalent part is Voivod immersed in old school heavy metal. Fantastic, indeed!
'Awake The Dreamer' brings me back to the days when I first came across Joe and his band at the time, Volume IV. Nothing strange with that since the song comes from their only album. But now it is mixed with the industrial/ melodic metal Joe been moving within lately and its still that same great song...but different! 'Weaving Spider's Come Not Here' is a short instrumental cinematic piece in the vein of the opening song. Very seductive and hypnotic. Quite the contrast then compared to album closer 'The Lich'. Straight up old-school death metal straight in yer face as Zak Price helps out on vocals. Great ending to a great album!
As always Joe keeps a very high standard with his recordings and 'Grimoire' enforces this, and then some. He holds on to certain things from each release but expands every time and this amalgamation, which must be one of his fortes, is better than ever on 'Grimoire'. Can't wait to see what he has in store for us next, in the meantime I strongly urge you all to listen to this album and let it immerse you in the world of Joe D. Carpenter. I sure will...again and again and again!
- Swedebeast
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