Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. We Are the Nightmare
2. Shattering the Spell
3. Sightless Wisdom
4. Servants to the Night
5. Failing Winds of Hopeless Greed
6. Overthrown
7. Progressive Entrapment
8. Fest for the Liar's Tongue
9. My Oath to Madness
10. Failure's Conquest
11. We Are the Nightmare [Multimedia Track]

Disc 2:

1. Bonus Material [DVD]

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #48666 in Music
• Released on: 2008-04-15
• Number of discs: 2
• Format: Enhanced

Customer Reviews

New to Arsis
I'm relatively new to Arsis, so I havn't heard their debut album yet. I make no assumptions about their previous work.

Based on this release, I would place Arsis pretty high on the totem pole, right there next to Arch Enemy, in terms of the melodic death metal category. They are a heavily Carcass-influenced band, but yet they come to the table with their own variation on the style that, ultimately, is unique. Their songs use multiple key riffs that bring a melody to each song and structure their songs in an extended verse, verse, chorus, verse, verse style. The chorus is usually where the key riffs are found, but not always.

The growls on this album are a mix between mid-high shrieks and semi-low growls. Not as low as Mortician or Dying Fetus, but they're not bad. The drum work is incredibly good. Hyper-fast blast beats, double bass, timing changes, the works. The guitar work is excellent, as well. Outside of some very innovative chorus riffs, there are some noteworthy solos, but I wouldn't say that every one can be committed to memory.

The lyrics arn't spectacular, but they're not bad. It doesn't seem like their lyrics really focus on any kind of particular theme or content. They're aimed at some unknown message and are often somewhat bland and uninspired. Their choruses are about the only memorable lyrics. If anything, I could dock points from Arsis when it comes to writing lyrics for the simple fact that I'd even score Cannibal Corpse much higher because at least their lyrics are BRUTAL. However, I never judge the quality of a metal band on their lyrical content, because we all know lyrics are usually a joke in this kind of music.

Here's my favorite part of this album:

There is a particularly memorable moment in the song "My Oath to Madness" when the guitar and bass cut out for a moment of breathing space where only the symbols can be heard as the lead singer growls ferciously into the chorus, "This is my oath to the lie!" The song then crawls out from under a deep sludge like a grizzly metallic tank crushing your skull beneath it while at the same time leaving behind the urge to destroy things even more.

Excellent
I discovered Arsis only about 6 months ago when I stumbled on a live performance of Face of My Innocence from Celebration of Guilt on youtube. I've been a fan ever since.

We Are the Nightmare is better than I could have hoped for. It is precise, technical, brutal and all the while most importantly: very catchy. I walk around with not only choruses stuck in my head, but guitar riffs. This is quite an achievement for a band. The drum and guitar work are nothing short of brilliant on this album. I would be surprised if any other release tops this one for 2008. For metal fans, this one is a must-buy.

Brutal, and the CD is mixed MUCH better than C.O.G
Firstly, this CD is pretty much non-stop hard riffs, "My Oath to Madness" is my favorite, awesome blend of heavy riffs, speed, and the chorus is really catchy. A little bit of more gutteral death metal vocals can be heard, but it is mostly the usual harsh, higher vocals in most of the songs (which I like the best). But best of all, this CD was mixed perfectly. I found that when listening to Celebration of Guilt, there was way too much emphasis put on the bass and drums. I have a standard subwoofer in my car and the bass was just overpowering. You couldn't hear the vocals and the guitar was muffled, it was a storm of cymbals and double bass. On the other hand, "We are the Nightmare" is perfect. The drums are crisp, and the guitar and vocals are prominent. This CD sounds incredible, there is no filler in any of the songs. Just straight up Arsis technical death that can't be beat!