Review by Krys on September 8, 2001.

It doesn’t get any harder than to write a review to a CD of one of the bands you grew up with. Like it was yesterday, I remember buying their first self-titled album and hiding it from my parents in fear of heaving it taken away. Being one of the most controversial bands of the eighties, both lyrically and image-wise, WASP terrified everyone from hags to married couples, from priests to politicians occupying their sleepless nights thinking of what effect would WASP music have on the youth of this world.

“Unholy Terror” represents the eighth chapter in a colorful band’s career that amazingly takes us back to its glorious days and gets more attention with every release. But would this trend continue? I think so... although I have some doubts. The lyrics are as provocative as ever. Blackie’s thoughtful booklet intro walks you through his state of mind and explains main ideas behind each track and let me assure you since WASP is not all sex, drugs and rock and roll there is a lot to read. And music... well, in short, take their first two albums, give it better arrangements, sound and production and that’s your “Unholy Terror”. I don’t think I’d ever have enough of Blackie’s vocals but the music doesn’t send any chills through my spine and that’s not good.

Maybe I should see a doctor and check my head but as good as “Unholy Terror” is, it misses some of the early magic from “The Last Command” or “The Headless Children”. Picking the favorite track is almost impossible cause all of them are on this same quality level, good, old WASP – and that’s what “Unholy Terror” is for – old fans.

Bottom Line: Every old fan of the band would be more than satisfied with a new (classic) W.A.S.P. release but I’m not sure if “Unholy Terror” will bring them some new followers since Blackie & Co. have already done this before.

Rating: 7 out of 10

Review by JD on February 17, 2014.

Sludge metal is a genre of metal I have a love/hate thing going on with it. Some of it I just love (Kylesa for one) while others are just not connecting with me (Greif). From Beneath Billows slides on to my desk and I am intrigued. Which side will this album land on for me? Will it be a like or not like?

Norway’s From Beneath Billows is one seriously eclectic band that is mixing some rather odd and unique parts of a darker form. Doom, sludge, industrial, some experimental and post metal collide into a slow moving storm of great power and constant slow motion- surging forth to tell its slowed tales.

Each song is eight minutes or longer, each building and growing in their own time… guiding us into a darker realm than our own. Minimalistic at points and heavy the next, the band seems to know when to do things or add or remove other things – and always doing it right. From Beneath Billows are one of those rare breed of bands that can incorporate these very scattered parts into something entertaining.

This was one album which has been a pleasurable one to review, one I will be playing long after it has been posted for the metal masses to read on-line. Monolith is now officially has a spot in the ‘love’ category, and won’t leave there for a while. Good music from a good band.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 9.5
Atmosphere: 9.5
Production: 8.5
Originality: 9
Overall: 9

Rating: 9.1 out of 10