REVIEWS

Panzerfaust zine

WRAITH OF THE ROPES - Ada (TOTAL RUST Music - CD 2005)

Well, it does look like TOTAL RUST tries to challenge my musical taste with their releases. After "Asymmetry" compilation, it's turn to try with WRAITH OF THE ROPES, American "horror metal" act. Yeah, definitely such description of WRAITH OF THE ROPES' music fits well to the actual sound of it. It really is demonic, creepy and scary! Basically the entire music is inspired / or rather reminds me doom metal acts. It's easy to say that, since the tempo is really crawling, it's very slow and kind of depressive. But the atmosphere of that recording is totally insane, creepy and ghastly; and it starts / ends with lunatic ambiental tracks - which could be worshiped by every COLD MEAT fan (just listen to "Snow Dragon"). Meanwhile we've got those four very long songs - each about 10 minutes long - consisted of those damn slow and monotonous riffs, drumming and completely unusual style of singing, which gives WRAITH OF THE ROPES their own identity (and makes Pete Steele sound like 13 years old girl!). That voice really fits well to the entire "horror styling" and sounds like speech of the demon or something. Definitely those long tracks hypnotise you, one could almost fell asleep, but it will be the sleep of the dead! Those riffs - from time to time accompanied by the piano or keyboards (what reminds me the classic horrors like "Halloween") - sound like someone was crawling, slowly approaching from the grave. Ahh, really intriguing atmosphere! And it swallows you. Surely it's not enjoyable / fun music, there's nothing to be classified as entertaining or suitable for headbangers. But I really recommend "Ada" to be played in the candle-lighten room, at nighttime, when nothing will disturb you and you'll just concentrate on the music. It's the only time of the day when you could listen to it properly. Even if you're not into slow music, check it out!
70 / 100