Review by Jack on February 15, 2003.

For all the wicked and frenetic pace in metal, it is nice to get a dirty sludgy record like this little ripper from Maximillion. Sludge, metalcore, doom... it’s all the slow shit for these guys. Not much breakneck thunder drumming or lightning riffs on "Maximillion", but then again this trio don't seem to be about that atypical shite.

Maximillion have created an album that is dense, heavy, and above all well-structured. As said previously they aren't going to blind you with speed or fury, but lull you into a filthy cesspit of murky music. Vocally, you are presented with a mixture of slow crooning as can be seen in 'Pure Black', and stereotypical hardcore/metalcore vocals, that while not revolutionary suit the style of Maximillion perfectly. The music itself is cunning and not completely forthcoming at first, but lulling around in the shadows drawing you into a sloooooow web of cold riffs and thick, meaty drums.

I am not going to shit you here guys, this is not a record for every day and every minute. For those of you who ain't digging the whole sludge thing, you might not hook into Maximillion straight away, but fuck me, when you want to rearrange your monotonous death metal for something different you will time and time again be coming back to "Maximillion". (Obviously you sludgers out there have cottoned onto what I was saying previously and picked up this disc).

Bottom Line: A worthy record for all abodes out there. Not a daily listen, but a killer disc that will be appreciated every time it’s pulled out.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

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

Rating: 8.2 out of 10