Hidden - Spectral Magnitude CD Review

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2003-09-05 : pm
HIDDEN - SPECTRAL MAGNITUDE (9 song CD) RED STREAM RECORDS
These guys were a bit different from what I expected coming from RED STREAM RECORDS. These guys play some very dismal & astral Death Metal music. They do touch on some other Metal styles of music like Doom & Black Metal. They have a very cosmic & spacey type vibe through out their music. At times the music seems to lean more towards sludgey Doom style, which then pops you back into some blasting speed! The albums conception presents the projection of time as eternity in the cosmos! The band has requested all origin & personal band information to be "hidden"! This just adds to the whole mysteriousness & curiosity of the band!
2003-08-14 : GID : Link
HIDDEN
“Spectral Magnitude”

When I first got this CD I didn’t know what to think. The first thing you really notice is the captivating artwork. Explanations of how the universe was and continues to be made. The groups name seems to suit them very well. No info is given about the band. Just the lyrics and titles.

The music reminds me of DarkThrone songs. It’s those certain slow downed parts and the vocals, at times. Not all the lyrics are screamed. There are not many that have effects on them, unless the kat can really do voices is an alien/monster tone. What makes it better I feel is the little use of the effects. It’s a personal opinion of mine. I like the growls that seem to be filled with hate and agitation of society. It takes a bit of a genius to actually make an album have a story you can follow and wonder to. If you’re into those types of storyline CD’s this is good for you. It’s an overall good CD. There’s different blends of genres in this. There seems to have a lot of Black influence with some Doom mixed into it. I really enjoy the fills on ‘Time as Eternity in the Cosmos’. Good job to those who made this album possible.
2002-07-31 : hatenumber6
dissappointed at first because i expected something more fucked and epic like Esoteric, Evoken, Corrupted. not that the Hidden doesn't approach psyche-doom-space, just not enough. the production seemed murky, distant, except for the drums which are crisp, full of varying tones, creative fills. and it's not as if i despise no-fi harsh primitivism. aforementioned reviews left no detail unexplored, the best comparison being to Celtic Frost and a certain classical deathrash ethic, as well as a retro-prog blackened atmosphere. i like it more the further i get from my initial expectation.
2002-06-20 : NIHILISTIC HOLOCAUST
Their space cover that looks a little bit in the vein of Rodney Matthews'
artworks let me imagine their music would be some kind of 70's
influenced, acid injected and dreamy black metal or another a bit
originaland darkened style.
In fact, I'd rather say they play some classical mid placed Death metal
with fast black metal touches. There are a few nice technical bass lines
touches. I could quote JUDECCA, EVOKEN, NUNSLAUGHTER and maybe
old INCANTATION to define a bit their style. There are doomy touches à
la old CATHEDRAL and some parts could be heard as old CELTIC FROST
influenced. I'd rather have seen their music on a demo tape.
Even if I found a few Ok parts, it remains very average and classical in
my ears.
2002-06-18 : Unchain The Underground

Hidden - Spectral Magnitude
9.5/10

I won't make any secret of the fact that I'm a big fan of the Red Stream label. They've always seemed to have a talent for signing some of the best bands out there. A few months back, I was checking the label's news page, and the signing of the band Hidden was announced. All information as to the bands origin and past was withheld, with the music only described as dismal astral metal. Had it been another label, I might have quickly forgotten about it, but with Red Stream, my curiosity was peaked, and I eagerly anticipated what the new signing might sound like.

Well, now I need wait no longer. Hidden's "Spectral Magnitude" has been unleashed, and I'm pretty fucking impressed. The musical style lies somewhere between black and death metal with little bits of doom thrown in here and there, taking a progressive approach that creates a feeling comparable to drowning in the vast cosmos, rather than having your head bashed in with a sledgehammer while a demon fucks your skull. All of the lyrics deal with science, specifically astrology, with beautiful astrological artwork to match. The production is good, but not ultra-raw, and it captures the sick but grand sound of the band rather well.

All of the elements are there (no pun intended) to create a great album. The riffs are strong and memorable, the bass lines are thick and powerful, the drums are tight and driving, and the vocals are wonderfully sick. And yet there have been many albums made that contain all of these same factors that in their sum have not been nearly as strong as this one.

The music at various points reminds me of many different bands, including but not limited to Nunslaughter, Blasphemy, Noctuary, Autopsy, Judas Iscariot, and Darkthrone. Yet none of these acts work as a single worthy point of comparison, only as reference points to give someone a loose idea of what they might expect. And even then, some might completely disagree with me (I've heard others make comparisons to Carcass, Nocturnus, and early Katatonia). While Hidden aren't by any means coming out of left field doing anything radically different, they certainly don't sound derivative of anyone, and that's an unfortunately rare thing these days.

I don't give this album a 10, because in my mind, that's a mark reserved for my favorite albums ever, and I don't think that this is one of them. However, this is still a great piece of work that will surely be among my top ten for the year, and is certainly a more than worthy addition to your CD collection. - Abraxas
2002-06-10 : Dead Web Zine
HIDDEN PLAYS INTERESTING HYBRID OF BLACK, DEATH, DOOM AND PROGRESSIVE
METAL WITH DARK COSMIC ATMOSPHERE. YOU'LL FEEL LIKE ASTRONAUT OF DEEP
SPACE SHUTTLE-EXPLORER SLOWLY MOVING INTO THE DEEPTHS OF UTTER
DARKNESS... TO FIND NEW DIMENSIONS AND FORMS OF LIFE...
FIRST SONG HAS STRONG BLACK METAL INFLUENCE. 3RD HAS CLEARN VOCAL.
VOCALIST SING IN BLACK/DEATH STYLE ON THIS ALBUM. TONS OF BEAUTIFUL
DARK METAL MELODIES COMBINED WITH SHEAR DEATH METAL BRUTALITY AND DOOM
METAL MELANCHOLY. I THINK NOT SO MUCH BRUTAL BUT MELODIC AND VERY
ORIGINAL. THE ALBUM'S CONCEPTION PRESENTS THE PROJECTION OF TIME AS
ETERNITY IN THE COSMOS. I THINK LYRICS MUST BE MORE WRITTEN, AS FOR
"CONCEPTION ALBUM". ANYWAY, THIS IS GRIM, UNIQUE AND ORIGINAL
MUSIC....
2002-06-06 : Kurt
- hey guys, this cd is pretty damn good. although not as technicallly proficient as Nocturnus, there is a definite influence of the aforementioned band. spaced out lyrics and themes give this cd a Area 51/Roswell vibe. Lyrically it make you think of the outer limits of space, and what exactly it is that is out "there". to listen to this album and not think of the vastness of the universe would mean that your existence on this earth is non-existant. it is impossible to determine if these guys are doing this to you(making you think about the endlessness of space) or if it is a natural reaction one has when mentally challenged to do so. if it is your cup o' tea to be forced to think about the material you choose to listen to, then pick this album up!!! i am quite sure you will not be let dow