Review by JD on April 7, 2009.

I have heard a couple of the earlier The Prophecy's albums. Being a Doom Metal fan, I was more than just ecstatic to get this one. What I heard once the album was playing, made this old headbanger's heart sing. I got near Doom perfection.

This band from England has always impressed me... and that is hard. After being a fan of such Doom legends as November's Doom and Candlemass, I found other band hard to equal the bar that they had made. The Prophecy not only has matched these Doom leaders, but they somehow have transcended to another level.

Adding in to their already well crafted music, they have started to seriously incorporated a bit of Death, Goth and even Progressive Metal in with their own... the outcome was getting Doom Metal expanding so much that it has been becoming more of what it was. Musically, lyrically and just plain feeling... Got to hand it to the band, they have certainly became more.

One listen to the haunting yet wonderful 'Delusions', the third track on the album... you will see just how these people have reshaped the Doom Metal genre and made it their own. It shows how Doom is not just a ' one size fits all' sort of style that caters to a single type of listener.... it shows clearly that heavy music is more diverse and creative than most other styles of music out there today.

They just have taken it to the next level, flat out and unabashed as hell. I loved it... you will have to: buy or die!! A horrible little quote from many years past, but one that is truly needed here... go out and buy it stupid!!!


Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 9.5
Atmosphere: 9.5
Production: 9.5
Originality: 9.5
Overall: 9.5

Rating: 9.5 out of 10 (one of the highest scores I have given, I think)

Review by JD on April 7, 2009.

I have heard a couple of the earlier The Prophecy's albums. Being a Doom Metal fan, I was more than just ecstatic to get this one. What I heard once the album was playing, made this old headbanger's heart sing. I got near Doom perfection.

This band from England has always impressed me... and that is hard. After being a fan of such Doom legends as November's Doom and Candlemass, I found other band hard to equal the bar that they had made. The Prophecy not only has matched these Doom leaders, but they somehow have transcended to another level.

Adding in to their already well crafted music, they have started to seriously incorporated a bit of Death, Goth and even Progressive Metal in with their own... the outcome was getting Doom Metal expanding so much that it has been becoming more of what it was. Musically, lyrically and just plain feeling... Got to hand it to the band, they have certainly became more.

One listen to the haunting yet wonderful 'Delusions', the third track on the album... you will see just how these people have reshaped the Doom Metal genre and made it their own. It shows how Doom is not just a ' one size fits all' sort of style that caters to a single type of listener.... it shows clearly that heavy music is more diverse and creative than most other styles of music out there today.

They just have taken it to the next level, flat out and unabashed as hell. I loved it... you will have to: buy or die!! A horrible little quote from many years past, but one that is truly needed here... go out and buy it stupid!!!


Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 9.5
Atmosphere: 9.5
Production: 9.5
Originality: 9.5
Overall: 9.5

Rating: 9.5 out of 10 (one of the highest scores I have given, I think)

Review by JD on April 7, 2009.

I have heard a couple of the earlier The Prophecy's albums. Being a Doom Metal fan, I was more than just ecstatic to get this one. What I heard once the album was playing, made this old headbanger's heart sing. I got near Doom perfection.

This band from England has always impressed me... and that is hard. After being a fan of such Doom legends as November's Doom and Candlemass, I found other band hard to equal the bar that they had made. The Prophecy not only has matched these Doom leaders, but they somehow have transcended to another level.

Adding in to their already well crafted music, they have started to seriously incorporated a bit of Death, Goth and even Progressive Metal in with their own... the outcome was getting Doom Metal expanding so much that it has been becoming more of what it was. Musically, lyrically and just plain feeling... Got to hand it to the band, they have certainly became more.

One listen to the haunting yet wonderful 'Delusions', the third track on the album... you will see just how these people have reshaped the Doom Metal genre and made it their own. It shows how Doom is not just a ' one size fits all' sort of style that caters to a single type of listener.... it shows clearly that heavy music is more diverse and creative than most other styles of music out there today.

They just have taken it to the next level, flat out and unabashed as hell. I loved it... you will have to: buy or die!! A horrible little quote from many years past, but one that is truly needed here... go out and buy it stupid!!!


Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 9.5
Atmosphere: 9.5
Production: 9.5
Originality: 9.5
Overall: 9.5

Rating: 9.5 out of 10 (one of the highest scores I have given, I think)

Review by JD on April 7, 2009.

I have heard a couple of the earlier The Prophecy's albums. Being a Doom Metal fan, I was more than just ecstatic to get this one. What I heard once the album was playing, made this old headbanger's heart sing. I got near Doom perfection.

This band from England has always impressed me... and that is hard. After being a fan of such Doom legends as November's Doom and Candlemass, I found other band hard to equal the bar that they had made. The Prophecy not only has matched these Doom leaders, but they somehow have transcended to another level.

Adding in to their already well crafted music, they have started to seriously incorporated a bit of Death, Goth and even Progressive Metal in with their own... the outcome was getting Doom Metal expanding so much that it has been becoming more of what it was. Musically, lyrically and just plain feeling... Got to hand it to the band, they have certainly became more.

One listen to the haunting yet wonderful 'Delusions', the third track on the album... you will see just how these people have reshaped the Doom Metal genre and made it their own. It shows how Doom is not just a ' one size fits all' sort of style that caters to a single type of listener.... it shows clearly that heavy music is more diverse and creative than most other styles of music out there today.

They just have taken it to the next level, flat out and unabashed as hell. I loved it... you will have to: buy or die!! A horrible little quote from many years past, but one that is truly needed here... go out and buy it stupid!!!


Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 9.5
Atmosphere: 9.5
Production: 9.5
Originality: 9.5
Overall: 9.5

Rating: 9.5 out of 10 (one of the highest scores I have given, I think)

Review by JD on April 7, 2009.

I have heard a couple of the earlier The Prophecy's albums. Being a Doom Metal fan, I was more than just ecstatic to get this one. What I heard once the album was playing, made this old headbanger's heart sing. I got near Doom perfection.

This band from England has always impressed me... and that is hard. After being a fan of such Doom legends as November's Doom and Candlemass, I found other band hard to equal the bar that they had made. The Prophecy not only has matched these Doom leaders, but they somehow have transcended to another level.

Adding in to their already well crafted music, they have started to seriously incorporated a bit of Death, Goth and even Progressive Metal in with their own... the outcome was getting Doom Metal expanding so much that it has been becoming more of what it was. Musically, lyrically and just plain feeling... Got to hand it to the band, they have certainly became more.

One listen to the haunting yet wonderful 'Delusions', the third track on the album... you will see just how these people have reshaped the Doom Metal genre and made it their own. It shows how Doom is not just a ' one size fits all' sort of style that caters to a single type of listener.... it shows clearly that heavy music is more diverse and creative than most other styles of music out there today.

They just have taken it to the next level, flat out and unabashed as hell. I loved it... you will have to: buy or die!! A horrible little quote from many years past, but one that is truly needed here... go out and buy it stupid!!!


Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 9.5
Atmosphere: 9.5
Production: 9.5
Originality: 9.5
Overall: 9.5

Rating: 9.5 out of 10 (one of the highest scores I have given, I think)

Review by JD on April 7, 2009.

I have heard a couple of the earlier The Prophecy's albums. Being a Doom Metal fan, I was more than just ecstatic to get this one. What I heard once the album was playing, made this old headbanger's heart sing. I got near Doom perfection.

This band from England has always impressed me... and that is hard. After being a fan of such Doom legends as November's Doom and Candlemass, I found other band hard to equal the bar that they had made. The Prophecy not only has matched these Doom leaders, but they somehow have transcended to another level.

Adding in to their already well crafted music, they have started to seriously incorporated a bit of Death, Goth and even Progressive Metal in with their own... the outcome was getting Doom Metal expanding so much that it has been becoming more of what it was. Musically, lyrically and just plain feeling... Got to hand it to the band, they have certainly became more.

One listen to the haunting yet wonderful 'Delusions', the third track on the album... you will see just how these people have reshaped the Doom Metal genre and made it their own. It shows how Doom is not just a ' one size fits all' sort of style that caters to a single type of listener.... it shows clearly that heavy music is more diverse and creative than most other styles of music out there today.

They just have taken it to the next level, flat out and unabashed as hell. I loved it... you will have to: buy or die!! A horrible little quote from many years past, but one that is truly needed here... go out and buy it stupid!!!


Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 9.5
Atmosphere: 9.5
Production: 9.5
Originality: 9.5
Overall: 9.5

Rating: 9.5 out of 10 (one of the highest scores I have given, I think)

Review by Krys on February 27, 2003.

During my last year interview with Sentenced's Ville Laihiala we found out that Ville hates to sing and loves playing guitar in what eventually translated into his new project PoisonBlack where he handles lead & rhythm axe duties and J.P Leppaluto (Charon) takes over the vocals. "Escapexstacy" being advertised as mix of Ozzy Osborne, Paradise Lost and Type O Negative brings elements of all aforementioned bands but it also fails to escape from the domains of the member's original bands.

By saying that I feel a little disappointed cause even though I'm a big fan of those two acts (Sentenced and Charon) I was looking for something more distinct and creative. "Escapexstacy" is a solid gothic rock album with very accessible melodies, emotional, sorrowful vocals (one of the best points of this release) and lyrics about lust, desire and sex. As you can see not much of a difference from their main projects except lyrics, and even though Ville's guitar is heavily influenced by Zake Wilde ("No More Tears" era), being a member of Sentenced since '96 lives the mark on the structure of compositions and overall atmosphere of the album. I'm not necessarily pointing it as a terribly bad thing because gothic rock fans will most probably find it very appealing and put that argument in pros rather than cons.

After taking the "bad" points out of my system I have to mention the excellent guitar/composition skills of the main man Ville Laihiala. While one might argue the point of not seeing anything masterful or extraordinary, I can't stop and not commend his understanding of the music and its translation to the guitar. It's not always the speed or complexity of the arpeggios that makes a guitar master but the way in which all elements create perfect harmony and atmosphere of the album (so often lost in today's releases). Ville knows when to crank it up in bass driven 'Love Infernal', crunchy 'All Else Is Hollow' or when to tone it down to secondary role like in 'With Her I Die'. Instead of showing off he preserves the balance between the melody and power to fit lyrical concept and to keep songs melancholic tone.

Bottom Line: Definitely too light for death/black metal fans but if you’re rooming for solid gothic-rock PoisonBlack is the end of your journey.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

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

Rating: 7.6 out of 10