Transcending Bizarre - The Four Scissors CD Review

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2004-02-02 : Anonymous Coward
“Transcending Bizarre?” is a young band coming from Greece. Formed in 2000 and after 2 promo CDs, Transcending Bizarre? became a “real” band with their first album “The Four Scissors” in June 2003 under the label SleazyRider Records. It’s very hard to present TB? because this band is just unique. They used to make a technical Death/Black Metal with a lot of Electro parts. And yes it’s new, fresh, uncommon and at the end, this scientific mix gives a fantastic and very promising debut album.

When I received this CD, I must admit that I didn't know what I was going to hear. Electro Black Metal… Strange! There are not many productions in this music style, but why not? The first track “Sattelite Souls” began, and I was pleasantly surprised by this disturbing introduction with a lot of electronic sounds and a general ambience extremely dark and oppressive. But I was only at the beginning of my surprises, because when the 2nd track began I was completely dazzled by this excellent song. A powerful and technical Symphonic Black/Death Metal with a ravaging guitar riff and an excellent Death/Black voice. But that’s not all, after 1:30 minutes of music the voice of Maria appeared and woaw! What a voice! Because there is a lot of orchestrations in TB? they don’t only use classic metal instruments but also violin, piano in addition to the beautiful voice of Maria and the result is just perfect.
But now, let’s talk about the Electro parts of “The Four Scissors” maybe some of us [the purists]can be afraid by this. But I promise you the Electronic sounds [some samples, etc.] are completely integrated in the music and that’s sound really good. Maybe you could find this very disturbing. Yes, with TB? a song can be Electronic, and become Symphonic[with violin and female voice] 30 seconds later.
It is a problem? No, and personally I just find this excellent.
About the musicians, there’s no doubt we have great guys, Dim [guitars] can play great guitars solos Peter [drums] is also excellent and I could say the same thing for the others members.
About the production of the album, we are not in Finland with a guy like Jussila, but why? No need of him because “The Four Scissors” has a very good sound, the voices are very audible, same thing for the instruments no one is stronger than the others and the mixing is also very good, we have a very powerful sound. A very good work for this first CD.
At the end, I will just speak about the artwork, which is totally in the spirit of Transcending Bizarre? completely deranged and, once again, for a first CD I must just admit that there was a beautiful effort for the booklet. Well this guys don’t half done the work…. Great!

Transcending Bizarre? is a very unique band with their own style, and “The Four Scissors” can be considerate as a masterpiece. Because they have a great originality, they can [they must] be a real big band on the metal scene. Yes they are not in the classic tendency but where ‘s the problem? To the opposite with “The Four Scissors” we have something new and something that one not already has listened 200 times.
I can just recommend this album, seriously Black Metal lovers, Melodic Death Metal lovers, and guys who love Industrial music [well everyone in fact] will be transcended by this magnificent and unique album sometimes lyric sometimes totally heavy with a pure frenetic tempo but at the end always excellent.
Definitely one of the revelations of the year.

RATING: 9

Reviewed by Jeff (Des666) metalstorm webzine October 2003
2004-02-02 : xAStOX
Well, I think that we can delete the question mark from the band's name, cause there's only one thing sure for them...They really know how to create bizarre sounds and music. They mix classic heavy metal with black and classical music with electro elements, they use brutal male and ethereal female vocals (they reminded me of Tarja's from Nightwish voice). The use of all these sounds creates a very mental and psychedelic sound, that travels you to the inner depths of your mind. Transcending Bizarre? have the theatrical elements of ARCTURUS and the futurist style of THE KOVENANT and yet they are so different from those bands...In my opinion we witness the maturity of the Greek metal scene and Transcending Bizarre? stand out as a living proof! Dare to test them, if you think that I exaggerate...Ending, I want to say that the whole album has a strong soundtrack feeling...It's simply magical!
*9.5/10
Nick "William_Kidd" Parastatidis
Behind the Veil webzine
October 2003