Review by Chris Pratl on June 5, 2018.

From the first time I heard these Danish monsters on Murderer back in '10, I had a hunch that there was going to be a long line of great albums that would emerge. Deus Otiosus dispels with the distorted production and over-the-top nuances that many death metal bands today try to infuse into the music to make it interesting. What you hear is what you get, and if you like your death metal raw and raucous with a good polish over it then you'll dig what you have here.

Rather than rely on speedy, tempestuous assaults throughout the music, Deus Otiosus cuts a very fine line between basic death metal and thrash on its newest effort, Rise. Make no mistake, however; this is about as deathly as the metal can get. From the first track, "Rising War" you hear the riffing that makes quality death metal so strong and encompassing. The familiar chugging that can literally shatter a door frame is what these Danes do best, and this effort only shows the band getting more interesting as it goes. There is a general air of heaviness and suffocation that hangs over the music that doesn't embellish the natural aura and doesn't make the album come off as sparse or dim. When you engage a band like this, the element of 'thickness' is almost expected in order for the band to successfully put across its message, and that isn't missing from this album.

The guitar work here touches all areas of death metal goodness and throws in the occasional 80's thrash riffing to satiate every taste and era. I really enjoyed "Vultures" with its slower, almost traditional metal sound that never fully crosses that line by keeping that crunchy feel in the tone that could never be accused of fully passing over to the 'other side.' When a band can neatly mix up its album with different styles and tones without losing the flow of the album, it's always a major coup for the naysayers who think death metal is one-dimensional and an otherwise stultified genre. All doubts are summarily removed when "Walk the Shadows" kicks in and the galloping returns with a vengeance. The mid-section has a very cool slow-down that, once again, relies heavily on the blurred lines of genre-jumping, and yet once again it fits perfectly without disrupting the flow.

If you aren't yet familiar with Deus Otiosus (for shame!) the vocals are your throaty death metal bellowing that are mixed clearly and don't get lost in a mire of guitars and drums. As for the rest of the band, picture if you will a tight formation of guys that have a fine knowledge of the genre and the others that surround it and you'll find yourself immersed in the fascinating chasm that is this band. When I say to you that everything is found in this album, make no mistake that I am being completely accurate in my humble assessment. You can hear some Swedish old school, some modern German touches, and a very brief hint or two of Norwegian blackness thrown in for measure. There are no weak moments here.

Rise manages to take everything that's ugly and brilliant about death metal music and mix it so perfectly with other a select couple of genres, creating a veritable hybrid of stylistic darkness not often found without compromise or repetitiveness. The band just keeps getting better, and I keep coming back for more.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10

(Originally written for www.metalpsalter.com)

Review by Jack on March 7, 2002.

My original thoughts of “Under the Cross” from Squealer were of thoughts of Megadeth; the opening riffs and drum blasts on the track ‘Painful Lust’ reminded me of Megadeth back in the late 80’s/early 90’s. Fortunately for my ears and this CD’s mark; we do not have another Megadeth clone, but in fact an album that would have to be in contention for one of the most diverse power metal albums this year.

Squealer (for those of you who have/had not heard of them, like me) are a metal band whom you would perhaps throw in the power metal category; however if you do see fit to deem Squealer and this year’s effort in “Under the Cross” as solely power metal, you would be doing them a BIG disservice. The coolest thing I picked up from my early listening of “Under the Cross” is the difference in each and every song. In the opener track, ‘Painful Lust’, you have some hard riffs and drums that belong in any other genre of metal apart from power metal; it is just too tough and manly to be power metal. The vocal efforts of Henner are also too thrashy to be pinned down to power metal and have a sort of hardcore edge to them. One-dimensional is something Henner is not; skip to the gothic ballad track in ‘Fade Away’ and you will hear a set of lungs that many a gothic-tinged vocalist would be proud of.

The story behind “Under the Cross” is one of religious thoughts and views; ironic and attempts at humor are abound in bucket-loads. ‘Painful Lust’ tells a tale about a monk jerking himself off and then we skip to a serious track in ‘Facing the Death’ which explains to us about fanaticism and dying for a cause...

There is something for everyone on “Under the Cross”; the cleaner vocals of Henner are simply amazing and in conjunction with the gang-vocals ala Stuck Mojo, you will find yourself singing along in blind faith. Definitely to be a favourite amongst power metal fans.

Bottom Line: Never a dull moment on “Under the Cross”. Squealer cross so many spectrums of metal that growing tired or bored of them would be a hard thing to achieve. A winner.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 9
Atmosphere: 8
Production: 9
Originality: 7
Overall: 7.5

Rating: 8.1 out of 10