Review by JD on August 4, 2009.

French Canadian Death Metal has come quite far in the last five to ten years, and has gotten to be nasty and very brutal in that time. Quebec is known for this barbarous yet seemingly so popular style of metal, and the next band called Approached By A God is a foremost example of the savage and so unrelenting wave of metal that is pouring coming out of this part of North America.

This young band with the blasphemous sort of name take everything to the extreme times ten, having this amazing mixing of sheer angst with a veritable wall of sound that slams in the center of your forehead. It sound pretty good for a first album, my only complaint is the ‘self-done’ productions end of things. This alone really sort of killed the strength of the album, but never once hid the fact that this band had a hell of a lot to offer up. It would not be the greatest Death Metal album ever... but is pretty damned good in it’s own right.

If all of this rawness cane end up being harnessed right (and gets better recording as well), Approached By A God might end up having some military applications with their metallic assault. They just might end up being a weapon of mass metal destruction... and harnessing them could only spell the destruction of posers and other lower forms of life. With all of this brute force these guys deliver... no wonder I am this damned excited. After hearing ‘Feasting The Beast’, anyone would be I bet.

For a first time outing, Approached By A God are damned good and seem to be steamrolling to bigger and better things... I say with time and with some maturity, along with getting into a proper studio for better production - the future really does looks rather good for this band. They are still so very young and have a lot to learn, but having great angst and seemingly unlimited talent that is untouched as yet makes me think.... they could end up being French Canada’s answer to Cannibal Corpse.

I for one look forward to seeing if I will end up being right with them... perhaps I have been approached by a METAL god(s) in training? Perhaps not... time will be the only yardstick for that.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 7.5
Atmosphere: 7
Production: 5
Originality: 7.5
Overall: 7.5

Rating: 6.9 out of 10

Review by Felix on January 16, 2021.

Unmistakable death metal. The cover? Not my cup of tea. The lyrics? Gore, splatter, horror, do not waste your time with studying. Focus yourself on the music and feel satisfied, that even a group who offers absolutely nothing new can demand your whole concentration.

Not every song on this album has the potential to stand the test of time. But the massive sound, powered by the wall of guitars in combination with the forceful voice, gives a good frame to each tune. So how do Facebreaker vary their pieces of flesh? They use every pace - and that's it. From the rapid 'Carving for Brains' to the bubbling 'Zombie Flesh Cult' you can find every classical death metal tempo. Blastbeats? No access.

Facebreaker did not make the wide spread mistake to start this album with the best track and end it with the worst. 'Tomb of the Hungry Dead', the final flesh attack, is very near to Bolt Thrower, especially at the beginning, where they generate a tension you may know from the typical Bolt Thrower song structures. But it is no rip-off, on the contrary, it is a homage. Memorable riffing, double-bass and mid-tempo. In conclusion, there will be no need for Facebreaker to take place in the second or third row, if they are able to create more songs like this one.

There are more tracks to mention due to their high entertainment factor. You will not be able to forget the sluggish opener 'Meat Freak' after listening to it for the first time. The stressed riffing and the predominant chorus will leave you no choice. The riffing on 'Dedicated to the Flesh' is excellent too, before the brute 'Catacomb' explodes, being the first speed orgy on this album. Afterwards 'Zombie Flesh Cult' retards the album with a fantastic morbid melody. Of course, melody is relative...

Maybe Facebreaker should not have recorded eleven but only eight or nine songs. If they would have passed on the "right" songs, those that sound a little bit idealess and convertible like 'Mutilator' or 'Hellmaster', this album could have reached about 90%. Nonetheless, this recording entertains in the typical way of death metal. And that is the main thing, because we still need Swedish death metal bands - especially after the sad split-up of Vomitory.

Rating: 7.5 out of 10

Review by Felix on January 16, 2021.

Unmistakable death metal. The cover? Not my cup of tea. The lyrics? Gore, splatter, horror, do not waste your time with studying. Focus yourself on the music and feel satisfied, that even a group who offers absolutely nothing new can demand your whole concentration.

Not every song on this album has the potential to stand the test of time. But the massive sound, powered by the wall of guitars in combination with the forceful voice, gives a good frame to each tune. So how do Facebreaker vary their pieces of flesh? They use every pace - and that's it. From the rapid 'Carving for Brains' to the bubbling 'Zombie Flesh Cult' you can find every classical death metal tempo. Blastbeats? No access.

Facebreaker did not make the wide spread mistake to start this album with the best track and end it with the worst. 'Tomb of the Hungry Dead', the final flesh attack, is very near to Bolt Thrower, especially at the beginning, where they generate a tension you may know from the typical Bolt Thrower song structures. But it is no rip-off, on the contrary, it is a homage. Memorable riffing, double-bass and mid-tempo. In conclusion, there will be no need for Facebreaker to take place in the second or third row, if they are able to create more songs like this one.

There are more tracks to mention due to their high entertainment factor. You will not be able to forget the sluggish opener 'Meat Freak' after listening to it for the first time. The stressed riffing and the predominant chorus will leave you no choice. The riffing on 'Dedicated to the Flesh' is excellent too, before the brute 'Catacomb' explodes, being the first speed orgy on this album. Afterwards 'Zombie Flesh Cult' retards the album with a fantastic morbid melody. Of course, melody is relative...

Maybe Facebreaker should not have recorded eleven but only eight or nine songs. If they would have passed on the "right" songs, those that sound a little bit idealess and convertible like 'Mutilator' or 'Hellmaster', this album could have reached about 90%. Nonetheless, this recording entertains in the typical way of death metal. And that is the main thing, because we still need Swedish death metal bands - especially after the sad split-up of Vomitory.

Rating: 7.5 out of 10

Review by Allan on March 28, 2003.

As if there isn't enough death/thrash acts coming out today or are already in existence, why not throw another one on top of the pile? While we're at it, we can make sure that they're somewhat second-class. This time it's Quebec's Horfixion. Their latest album, "Instigators of Chaos" is torn between decency, mediocrity, and downright atrociousness.

Horfixion aren't bad. Their musicianship, minus the drumming (Patrice Hamelin of Martyr fame), is all right, but nothing special. The actual music is ok. It's not something that will make you cringe, but it's not something to write mom about. It doesn't have what it takes to insight that aggressiveness in you that is much needed for this style. Therein lies the problem: Horfixion are just kind blah. When they're not sounding like Death, they're busy trying to sound like Slayer, and when they sound like neither, it just comes across as generic. Don't get me wrong. Many bands pass by doing what Horfixion does, but that's only because (hopefully) they have a little something more to offer. Maybe it's just their distinguishable sound, the power they put into their music, or the revitalization that they're doing for a style that's been long since beaten dead. Unfortunately, Horfixion just don't have any of that. I guess it's not really a surprise for a band that was originally called Horrific Illusion and main purpose was to cover other bands songs...

Despite the downside of "Instigators of Chaos," there are a few pleasant ideas here and there. The rhythm section leaves a little bit to be desired, but the lead guitar comes up with some catchy melodies here and there.

Bottom Line: Horfixion just don't cut it. If you really are a big fan of death/thrash ala Death and Slayer then I guess you might want to check out "Instigators of Chaos." For the rest of the world, we'll simply go on without it.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Originality: 4
Musicianship: 6
Atmosphere: 5
Production: 6
Overall: 5

Rating: 5.2 out of 10

Review by Allan on March 28, 2003.

As if there isn't enough death/thrash acts coming out today or are already in existence, why not throw another one on top of the pile? While we're at it, we can make sure that they're somewhat second-class. This time it's Quebec's Horfixion. Their latest album, "Instigators of Chaos" is torn between decency, mediocrity, and downright atrociousness.

Horfixion aren't bad. Their musicianship, minus the drumming (Patrice Hamelin of Martyr fame), is all right, but nothing special. The actual music is ok. It's not something that will make you cringe, but it's not something to write mom about. It doesn't have what it takes to insight that aggressiveness in you that is much needed for this style. Therein lies the problem: Horfixion are just kind blah. When they're not sounding like Death, they're busy trying to sound like Slayer, and when they sound like neither, it just comes across as generic. Don't get me wrong. Many bands pass by doing what Horfixion does, but that's only because (hopefully) they have a little something more to offer. Maybe it's just their distinguishable sound, the power they put into their music, or the revitalization that they're doing for a style that's been long since beaten dead. Unfortunately, Horfixion just don't have any of that. I guess it's not really a surprise for a band that was originally called Horrific Illusion and main purpose was to cover other bands songs...

Despite the downside of "Instigators of Chaos," there are a few pleasant ideas here and there. The rhythm section leaves a little bit to be desired, but the lead guitar comes up with some catchy melodies here and there.

Bottom Line: Horfixion just don't cut it. If you really are a big fan of death/thrash ala Death and Slayer then I guess you might want to check out "Instigators of Chaos." For the rest of the world, we'll simply go on without it.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Originality: 4
Musicianship: 6
Atmosphere: 5
Production: 6
Overall: 5

Rating: 5.2 out of 10