Review by David on March 25, 2005.

Strange thing to say of a “metal” band, but Dream Theater always seemed most tolerable when they were doing their more ballad-like material. Here with his solo album, Elements of Persuasion, James LaBrie is essentially taking a more direct approach than the last DT album I heard (Scenes from a Memory) and in the process shows why the pussywhipped side of his day job seems to have the run of things.

With no further beating around the bush, LaBrie’s vocals are, by and large, wrong. Opener “Crucify” perfectly illustrates the point at hand. With its heavy guitars dealing out thick speedy metal verses and a natty pre-chorus breakdown you’re getting a surprisingly fierce track that sounds modern and relatively aggressive; largely the story of the album. There are some duff moments on the album musically, for instance “Drained” contains a particularly comical riff and “Invisible” is just plain tedious. In the main these problems aren’t all too common.

LaBrie’s over the top squeals, however, are a pain in the ass. When he keeps his tone at a moderate level it’s tolerable despite being a small fit for the big music. As he slowly creeps into “balls-in-a-vice” territory it gets uncomfortable and I had to keep checking that my own manhood hadn’t dropped off in sympathy.

A personal highlight of the album, “Slightly out of Reach,” shows the best side of his abilities; the sappy balladry ensures he keeps to the lower tones, and in tandem with the keyboard washes makes the track sound somewhat heartfelt. Of course there’s an overdone guitar solo that gets bothersome after a short while - residue from the day job? Perhaps.

In all this is actually more an enjoyable album than I expected it to be. Some slightly awkward moments musically and a fair amount of shocking moments vocally only take this down a few notches. Overall a pleasant listen that will likely grow on you like a nasty fungal infection.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 7
Atmosphere: 6
Production: 9
Originality: 5
Overall: 8

Rating: 7 out of 10

Review by Michael on November 28, 2002.

Not having heard Taake before this listen, I was not sure what to expect. With the very Black Metal–esque band name and album title, I was fairly sure of what I was in for with this band.

"Bjoergvin" is basically your stock standard Black Metal album. The songs are well constructed, the guitar lines are fast paced, the drums are very quick and the vocals are straight out of the “Guide to Classic Black Metal” handbook. Not taking anything away from the band, they are very good at what they do, but like many new bands emerging at the moment…its nothing new. The band is obviously aware of this, and they have made some small advances on the standard sound. Clean vocals have been used sparingly on the album, and to good effect, but a more varied use of EQ on them would have gone a long way to really spacing the songs and giving the clean vocals a different and more effective dynamic to the screams and growls.

An interesting element to Taake are their use of quirky time signatures, not only sticking to the sea shanty like groove that Black Metal bands such as Emperor and Dimmu Borgir made so famous, they have experimented with many different rhythms, which at times go as far as to sound like a ramba or even a reggae beat! I’m not sure if I like these types of changes, but full credit goes to the guys for trying something new and being inventive.

Production wise this album is better than a lot of black metal but is still below the standard of many of the bigger bands in the scene. Too much mid range and not nearly enough bottom and top end creating a very bland all over sound containing basically no dynamics at all.

Bottom Line: I’m not sure what else to say about this band. They play black metal, and they do play black metal well, but when it comes down to it they are simply that, another black metal band.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 7
Atmosphere: 6
Production: 5
Originality: 5
Overall: 7

Rating: 6 out of 10

Review by Elijah on March 5, 2021.

Why is this fantastic album never given the attention it deserves? Why isn't it talked about much? And most of all, why is it never credited as one of the first death metal albums??? I'll never know. But I myself am so glad I've always been giving the almighty Morbid Visions the attention and appreciation it truly deserves.

I remember back in the day I kinda hated this album, because the guitars sounded cheap and tinny, the production on them I was confused by. That's pretty much the only reason why I disliked it a long time ago. But the more I've listened, the more I've started to love it and realize how wrong I was for disliking it and thinking it was trash. For a first timer on this album, one might react with "what the fuck" because of how the guitars sound, but you may eventually get over it. After all this is 1986, so it should get a little break from negative critical reception on how the guitars sound. Speaking of 1986, this was released in fucking 1986! THIS. I'd myself say this is ahead of it's time, because this is a pure, heavy, evil, bitchin' death metal album in 1986. Sepultura themselves managed to figure the genre out even before it found it's fixed sound and was properly founded.

The drums; filled with energy, power, and fury. The vocals; raspy, growly; just perfect. The guitars; awesome, raw, evil, and satisfying. The bass; present and hearable, and not overpowered by the guitars. The first track (also the title track) 'Morbid Visions', which is my favorite off the album, immediately shows the listener what they're about, and how raw and kickass this album is overall. Catchy fast drum beats and blasts at the beginning, fast riffs, repeated raspy growl-screams, what else is there to ask? This is incredible for 1986. The other best tracks are 'Mayhem', 'Troops of Doom', and 'War'. The four tracks I've just mentioned are the best on the album, but every track is good; Morbid Visions is an album that's good from beginning to end.

One of the biggest reasons why I love this album is the fact that this was released in 1986, and it's really heavy and brutal for an album put out at that time. The main aspect that makes it heavy are the drums. They have a super strong, solid, brutal sound to them. The snare drum and kick drum don't fuck around, neither do the toms and cymbals. The guitars, once you get used to them, are great and sound fantastic. They sound evil, run-down (in a good way), and remnant of an ongoing fire. And the riffs are on point and of quality, I adore the guitar work on this release. Max's raspy growl-shouts are a cherry on top to taste. This is definitely one of the very first death metal albums, I'd say the second "death metal" album after Possessed's "Seven Churches". Death's "Scream Bloody Gore" is most definitely NOT the first death metal album, "Seven Churches" is, followed by Morbid Visions. "Scream Bloody Gore" DEFINED what death metal truly is, it didn't INVENT the genre. "Scream Bloody Gore" is EXTREMELY overrated, go give Morbid Visions the attention instead, which it truly deserves and needs more of.

This will always be my favorite Sepultura record, Beneath the Remains or Arise will never come close to this in my opinion. Morbid Visions is great because: #1: It's raw, brutal, and heavy. #2: An album this brutal and ahead of it's time came out in 1986. #3: It simply just has very good and catchy songs. I may also like albums like Roots and a good chunk of the Derrick Green era of Sepultura, but this album will forever be my #1 of theirs.

Best Songs:
'Morbid Visions'
'Mayhem'
'Troops of Doom'
'War'
'Crucifixion'

Rating: 9.9 out of 10 

Review by Adam on March 21, 2001.

Ahh memories...Don't you love them. This is Sepultura back when it was cool to rip off bands like Morbid Angel and use english dictionaries to make up your songs. For the time and the type of studio they could afford, this release is pretty impressive for such a primitive recording. Sepultura is still a young band here but several songs shine through escpecially stand out track Troops Of Doom. All in all this is as good as a speed thrash cd made in a record store's back room could possibly get. If you are a Sepultura fan, this is a very important disc because it shows the beginning of a journey of a very young band about ready to mature beyond anyone's wildest dreams. Even though it could be considered a classic in its own right, nothing really saves it from being a relatively bad cd, but hey it's Sepultura we are talking about here...and it doesn't get much more primitive than this!

Bottom Line: Die-hard Sepultura fans make sure you have this cd in your collection!

Rating: 5 out of 10.

Review by Elijah on March 5, 2021.

Why is this fantastic album never given the attention it deserves? Why isn't it talked about much? And most of all, why is it never credited as one of the first death metal albums??? I'll never know. But I myself am so glad I've always been giving the almighty Morbid Visions the attention and appreciation it truly deserves.

I remember back in the day I kinda hated this album, because the guitars sounded cheap and tinny, the production on them I was confused by. That's pretty much the only reason why I disliked it a long time ago. But the more I've listened, the more I've started to love it and realize how wrong I was for disliking it and thinking it was trash. For a first timer on this album, one might react with "what the fuck" because of how the guitars sound, but you may eventually get over it. After all this is 1986, so it should get a little break from negative critical reception on how the guitars sound. Speaking of 1986, this was released in fucking 1986! THIS. I'd myself say this is ahead of it's time, because this is a pure, heavy, evil, bitchin' death metal album in 1986. Sepultura themselves managed to figure the genre out even before it found it's fixed sound and was properly founded.

The drums; filled with energy, power, and fury. The vocals; raspy, growly; just perfect. The guitars; awesome, raw, evil, and satisfying. The bass; present and hearable, and not overpowered by the guitars. The first track (also the title track) 'Morbid Visions', which is my favorite off the album, immediately shows the listener what they're about, and how raw and kickass this album is overall. Catchy fast drum beats and blasts at the beginning, fast riffs, repeated raspy growl-screams, what else is there to ask? This is incredible for 1986. The other best tracks are 'Mayhem', 'Troops of Doom', and 'War'. The four tracks I've just mentioned are the best on the album, but every track is good; Morbid Visions is an album that's good from beginning to end.

One of the biggest reasons why I love this album is the fact that this was released in 1986, and it's really heavy and brutal for an album put out at that time. The main aspect that makes it heavy are the drums. They have a super strong, solid, brutal sound to them. The snare drum and kick drum don't fuck around, neither do the toms and cymbals. The guitars, once you get used to them, are great and sound fantastic. They sound evil, run-down (in a good way), and remnant of an ongoing fire. And the riffs are on point and of quality, I adore the guitar work on this release. Max's raspy growl-shouts are a cherry on top to taste. This is definitely one of the very first death metal albums, I'd say the second "death metal" album after Possessed's "Seven Churches". Death's "Scream Bloody Gore" is most definitely NOT the first death metal album, "Seven Churches" is, followed by Morbid Visions. "Scream Bloody Gore" DEFINED what death metal truly is, it didn't INVENT the genre. "Scream Bloody Gore" is EXTREMELY overrated, go give Morbid Visions the attention instead, which it truly deserves and needs more of.

This will always be my favorite Sepultura record, Beneath the Remains or Arise will never come close to this in my opinion. Morbid Visions is great because: #1: It's raw, brutal, and heavy. #2: An album this brutal and ahead of it's time came out in 1986. #3: It simply just has very good and catchy songs. I may also like albums like Roots and a good chunk of the Derrick Green era of Sepultura, but this album will forever be my #1 of theirs.

Best Songs:
'Morbid Visions'
'Mayhem'
'Troops of Doom'
'War'
'Crucifixion'

Rating: 9.9 out of 10 

Review by Adam on March 21, 2001.

Ahh memories...Don't you love them. This is Sepultura back when it was cool to rip off bands like Morbid Angel and use english dictionaries to make up your songs. For the time and the type of studio they could afford, this release is pretty impressive for such a primitive recording. Sepultura is still a young band here but several songs shine through escpecially stand out track Troops Of Doom. All in all this is as good as a speed thrash cd made in a record store's back room could possibly get. If you are a Sepultura fan, this is a very important disc because it shows the beginning of a journey of a very young band about ready to mature beyond anyone's wildest dreams. Even though it could be considered a classic in its own right, nothing really saves it from being a relatively bad cd, but hey it's Sepultura we are talking about here...and it doesn't get much more primitive than this!

Bottom Line: Die-hard Sepultura fans make sure you have this cd in your collection!

Rating: 5 out of 10.

Review by Elijah on March 5, 2021.

Why is this fantastic album never given the attention it deserves? Why isn't it talked about much? And most of all, why is it never credited as one of the first death metal albums??? I'll never know. But I myself am so glad I've always been giving the almighty Morbid Visions the attention and appreciation it truly deserves.

I remember back in the day I kinda hated this album, because the guitars sounded cheap and tinny, the production on them I was confused by. That's pretty much the only reason why I disliked it a long time ago. But the more I've listened, the more I've started to love it and realize how wrong I was for disliking it and thinking it was trash. For a first timer on this album, one might react with "what the fuck" because of how the guitars sound, but you may eventually get over it. After all this is 1986, so it should get a little break from negative critical reception on how the guitars sound. Speaking of 1986, this was released in fucking 1986! THIS. I'd myself say this is ahead of it's time, because this is a pure, heavy, evil, bitchin' death metal album in 1986. Sepultura themselves managed to figure the genre out even before it found it's fixed sound and was properly founded.

The drums; filled with energy, power, and fury. The vocals; raspy, growly; just perfect. The guitars; awesome, raw, evil, and satisfying. The bass; present and hearable, and not overpowered by the guitars. The first track (also the title track) 'Morbid Visions', which is my favorite off the album, immediately shows the listener what they're about, and how raw and kickass this album is overall. Catchy fast drum beats and blasts at the beginning, fast riffs, repeated raspy growl-screams, what else is there to ask? This is incredible for 1986. The other best tracks are 'Mayhem', 'Troops of Doom', and 'War'. The four tracks I've just mentioned are the best on the album, but every track is good; Morbid Visions is an album that's good from beginning to end.

One of the biggest reasons why I love this album is the fact that this was released in 1986, and it's really heavy and brutal for an album put out at that time. The main aspect that makes it heavy are the drums. They have a super strong, solid, brutal sound to them. The snare drum and kick drum don't fuck around, neither do the toms and cymbals. The guitars, once you get used to them, are great and sound fantastic. They sound evil, run-down (in a good way), and remnant of an ongoing fire. And the riffs are on point and of quality, I adore the guitar work on this release. Max's raspy growl-shouts are a cherry on top to taste. This is definitely one of the very first death metal albums, I'd say the second "death metal" album after Possessed's "Seven Churches". Death's "Scream Bloody Gore" is most definitely NOT the first death metal album, "Seven Churches" is, followed by Morbid Visions. "Scream Bloody Gore" DEFINED what death metal truly is, it didn't INVENT the genre. "Scream Bloody Gore" is EXTREMELY overrated, go give Morbid Visions the attention instead, which it truly deserves and needs more of.

This will always be my favorite Sepultura record, Beneath the Remains or Arise will never come close to this in my opinion. Morbid Visions is great because: #1: It's raw, brutal, and heavy. #2: An album this brutal and ahead of it's time came out in 1986. #3: It simply just has very good and catchy songs. I may also like albums like Roots and a good chunk of the Derrick Green era of Sepultura, but this album will forever be my #1 of theirs.

Best Songs:
'Morbid Visions'
'Mayhem'
'Troops of Doom'
'War'
'Crucifixion'

Rating: 9.9 out of 10 

Review by Adam on March 21, 2001.

Ahh memories...Don't you love them. This is Sepultura back when it was cool to rip off bands like Morbid Angel and use english dictionaries to make up your songs. For the time and the type of studio they could afford, this release is pretty impressive for such a primitive recording. Sepultura is still a young band here but several songs shine through escpecially stand out track Troops Of Doom. All in all this is as good as a speed thrash cd made in a record store's back room could possibly get. If you are a Sepultura fan, this is a very important disc because it shows the beginning of a journey of a very young band about ready to mature beyond anyone's wildest dreams. Even though it could be considered a classic in its own right, nothing really saves it from being a relatively bad cd, but hey it's Sepultura we are talking about here...and it doesn't get much more primitive than this!

Bottom Line: Die-hard Sepultura fans make sure you have this cd in your collection!

Rating: 5 out of 10.