Style: symphonic death metal
Primary Emotions/Themes: man, god, the devil, spirituality
Thoughts: Some albums are way before their time. Some herald the coming of a style eons before it becomes known to the masses. Phlebotomized's debut album is one such instance in the lexicon of death metal.
Death metal with classical instrumentation is nothing new these days. Bands use violins, brass, and other instruments from hundreds of years ago along side the distorted vocals and guitars. This was not the case in 1994.
Immense, Intense, Suspense liberally utilizes both violins as well as classical song structures and composition. These two elements are core to what makes the album so special. The violin is used liberally, however it never overstays its welcome. It's used very much in the same way a lead guitar would be used to usher in and direct melodies along with the rest of the band.
The song structures are another thing all together. Instead of the standard verse/chorus structure that so much of the genre uses, Phlebotomized has taken a more linear writing technique with their debut album. The sections of songs rarely repeat and the music keeps progressing towards a logical conclusion rather than a known one. If a section does repeat the song often will utilize an A-B-A structure, where the song will end in the same fashion that it started.
I could keep going on how well this album is written, how well the vocals are executed, how much I love the violin interplay with the rest of the band... we would be here for hours. In stead I urge you dear reader to make up your own mind. Listen to this classic and see for yourself. Maybe one day this album can get the recognition it so justly deserves. Until that day I will continue to enjoy it and spread the good word of Immense, Intense, Suspense.
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