Review: Withered Folie Circulaire

June 14, 2008 by Scott

Withered’s Folie Circulaire is another step in the extreme metal genre for the band. The follow up to 2005’s Memento Mori is a very busy recording. The mix between Mike Thompson and Chris Freeman’s vocals compliment each other as do their guitars. A very fast paced, slightly over-distorted recording, Withered’s latest release will have the mosh pits churning like an out of control blender one minute and bring it to a head banging, fist raising halt the next.

Beau Brandon’s drumming is an amazing display of athleticism and rhythm while keeping up with the ridiculously fast pace of guitars at times. That halt of head banging, and fist raising comes with every song. At times I thought the guitars were very over-powering of everything else especially the vocals. The bass guitar of Mike Longoria becomes ever so beautifully present in Gnosis Unveils and the entire album is lyrically genius with guest vocals from Napalm Death’s Barney Greenway on The Fated Breath and Clamor Beneath

With lines such as “How long will I be lost in lies of Sanity? I crave the emptiness of ignorance, the only true faith I’ve know.” from Purification of Ignorance. Or Reveal The Essence Of Suffering’s intro line “Plague of man, for want of purpose. At war with his nature. A useless passion”. It’s amazing.

I have had this in my possession for quite some time because I haven’t really been able to figure out how to explain Folie Circulie in words. It’s also taking me some time to get used to this album. At first I really thought that it wasn’t my thing but the more I have listened to it to try to come up with a review for it, it has grown on me. The only complaint I have is that at times it can be very noisy. By that I mean sometimes the guitars and mix in general can sound a bit distorted volume wise. I would probably like it a lot more if it was a bit cleaner sounding, but that’s just my preference.

Lastly, fans of Necrophobic will enjoy (or not) the cover of Necrophobic’s Into Armegeddon.

I give it a 3 out of 4 Stars