Immolation - Bringing Down The World DVD

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Immolation - Bringing Down The World DVD

We say :-

When the "Unholy Cult" was originally released in 2002 it set a new standard in ultra heavy death metal. It was a release that many thought Immolation would not be able to top, until Majesty and Decay came out earlier this year.

When a band re-issue an old album there are usually two motives. One is to cash in on the success of a recent release, the other to satisfy a demand for something rare or to reissue something that has been unavailable for a while. Although the re-release of Immolation's 2002 album 'Unholy Cult' is clearly intended to shift copies in the wake of the amazing 'Majesty and Decay' album there are some really compelling reasons for getting hold of this Deluxe edition.

Unholy Cult is, to use a much overused term, a classic of the genre. It is undeniably a great album but if you're a fan of Death Metal then you probably have a copy already. So what is different about this release to encourage you to spend your hard earned cash ?

How about a reissue DVD packed with live performances, a band interview, a photo gallery and stacks of bonus material. Interested ?

Thought so.

Live DVDs succeed or fail on two main factors, the quality of the performance and the quality of the production. Thankfully 'Bringing Down The World' scores well on both fronts. The filming, sound and production are of varying quality, although the main feature is very good. What is consistent throughout is the performance and the band are clearly giving it their all.

The main feature of the DVD, originally released in 2004, was Immolation's support slot for Cradle of Filth in Holland in 2003. The set list is an excellent mix of tracks from the bands 10 year history to that point. As well as tracks from "Unholy Cult", including of course the awesome title track, there are live favorites such as "Father you're not a Father" and "Unpardonable Sin" from 2000s "Close to a World Below" and "Those Left Behind" from their 1991 debut "Dawn of Possession".

This gig benefits from the best video and sound quality. This footage shows Immolation's entire set and is 45 minutes of Death Metal excellence tinged with unadulterated brutality.

There are a total of 23 live tracks (some repeated) on the DVD, recorded across 4 concerts and the quality varies between OK and excellent. This is a release which really gives you as much of a feel for the Immolation live experience as you'll ever get in your living room.

Another thing I realy liked about this DVD is how the the cameramen get right into the middle of the action, with the majority of the footage being recorded from the stage. This gives a much more informal feel to the final product which suits the music extremely well.

This, then, is a raw DVD. The live performance has not been edited and softened with clever camera tricks and over the top production. What you see is, to all intents and purposes, what those lucky enough to be there is 2003 saw (albeit a lot less sweaty).

The bonus features on the DVD are similarly well put together. The interview is not just the usual filler but is actually interesting and captures what the guys in the band were like at that moment in time.

Oh, and if you need another reason to buy Unholy Cult Deluxe, www.play.com are doing it for £8.95 with free P&P in the UK.

At that price it would be rude not to :)

Dizzy

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