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Saturday, January 24, 2009
BELIEVER - DIMENSIONS - 1993 / DISCOGRAPHY / BIOGRAPHY / REVIEW
THIS ALBUM CONTAIN(10-TRACKS)
1-GONE
2-FUTURE MIND
3-DIMENTIA
4-WHAT IS WHAT CANNOT BE
5-SINGULARITY
6-NO APOLOGY
7-TRILOGY OF KNOWLEDGE INTRO
8-TRILOGY OF KNOWLEDGE MOVEMENT 1:THE LIE
9-TRULOGY OF KNOWLEDGE MOVEMENT 2:THE TRUTH
10-TRILOGY OF KNOWLEDGE MOVEMENT 3:THE KEY
11-MESSAGE FROM THE BAND
12-BLEMISHED SACRIFICES(Live)
13-THE CHOSEN(Live)
14-STRESS(Live)
There are two different cover arts existing for this release. One for theR.E.X.version (rare - below)and another for the RoadRunner version (above)Re released in 2007 (Europe) and 2008 (USA) by Metal Mind Productions indigipack format.Also re-released December 2004 by Retroactive Records limited to 1000 copies,with three bonus tracks taken from a show 31 October 1989:12 Blemished Sacrifices (live)13) The Chosen (live)14) Stress (live)(The 11th track is five seconds long and is present on all versions of thealbum, but is just a band member saying "We love you, take care, bye bye".)
BELIEVER-DIMENSIONS-1993
THIS ALBUM CONTAIN(10-TRACKS)
1-GONE
2-FUTURE MIND
3-DIMENTIA
4-WHAT IS BUT CANNOT BE
5-SINGULARITY
6-NO APOLOGY
7-TRILOGY OF KNOWLEDGE MOVEMENT 1:INTRO
8-TRILOGY OF KNOWLEDGE MOVEMENT 2:THE LIE
9-TRILOGY OF KNOWLEDGE MOVEMENT 3:THE TRUTH
10-TRILOGY OF KNOOLEDGE MOVEMENT 3:THE KEY
CREDITS:
William Keller - lead vocals
Kurt Bachman - vocals, guitar
Dave Baddorf - guitar
Howe Kraft - bass
Joey Daub - drums
Jim Winter - bass
Julianne Laird - cello
Glenn Fischbach - violin
Scott Laird - violin
BELIEVER-SANITY OBSCURE-1990/2007
THIS ALBUM CONTAIN(8-TRACKS)
1-SANITY OBSCURE
2-WISDOM'S CALL
3-NONPOINT
4-IDOLS OF INNORANCE
5-STOP THE MADNESS
6-DIES IRAE
7-DUST TO DUST
8-LIKE A SONG
CREDIT:Line-up :
Kurt Bachman - guitars, vocals
Dave Baddorf - guitars
Wyatt Robertson - bass
Joey Daub - drums
Re-released in 2007 (Europe) and 2008 (USA) by Metal Mind Productions indigipack format. .
BELIEVER-EXTRACTION FROM MORTALITY-1989/2007
THIS ALBUM CONTAIN(10-TRACKS)
1-UNITE
2-VILE HYPOCRISY
3-DESOLATION OF SODOM
4-TORMENTED
5-SHADOW OF DEATH
6-BLEMISHED SACRIFICES
7-BOT EVEN ONE
8-EXTARCTION FROM MORTALITY
9-STRESS
10-THE CHOSEN(Bonus Track From Various S.C.M)
11-VILE HYPROCRISY
CREDIT:Line-up:
Kurt Bachman -vocals, guitars
Howe Kraft -guitar
Dave Baddorf -bass
Joey Daub -drums
Re-Released in 2001 by M8 [Millenium Eight] Records with two bonus tracks:10. The Chosen (taken from East Coast Metal compilation)11. Vile Hypocrisy (remix, taken from Argh!!! compilation)Bootlegged in 2007 (Europe) and 2008 (USA) by Metal Mind Productions in digipakformat. .
BELIEVER-THE RETURN-1988(DEMO)
THIS DEMO CONTAIN(3-TRACKS)
1-UNITE
2-THE RETURN
3-I/Y/F(IN YOUR FACE)Instrumental)
CREDIT:Current line-up
Kurt Bachman - Vocals, Guitar(Kr'uppt)
Jim Winters - Bass, Guitar
Joey Daub - Drums(Fountain of Tears)
Former/past members
Dave Baddorf - Guitar
Howe Kraft - Bass
Wyatt Robertson- Bass.
Believer was formed in early 1986 by guitarist/vocalist, kurt bachman and friend and drummer Joey daub. Originally starting out, they played a more melodic metal style and quickly released a demo cassette called "The Return". It wasn't long before they found their calling as a thrash/metal band and began to write material that would soon take the world by surprise.In 1989 "Extraction from Mortality" was released upon the unsuspecting Christian market through REX music, a then popular Christian label. It didn't take long for the technical thrash metal style to catch on and Believer had sunk its teeth deep into the industry and set a standard far above the rest. They began touring, both with Christian and secular (non-Christian) bands and gaining fans around the world. The receptive response of their innovative style spilled over into the mainstream market and stirred interest in Road Runner Records, which quickly led to their signing. In 1990 "Sanity Obscure", Believers second full length CD was released on both REX Music and Road Runner Records. With its anti-drug themed song "Stop the madness" (later released as a single) and anti-pollution song "Non-point" Believer fans were not disappointed by the evolving emotional music that it produced. Adding the symphony/orchestra master piece "Dies Irae", they fused thrash, violins and opera all conglomerated into an artful construction of originality. Believer toured the United States and Europe in support of this record gaining even more popularity and recognition. After 3 years and a partial line up change Believer released their long awaited third album. In 1993 "Dimensions" was released on both REX Music and Road Runner Records. This would be the bands final album and they received a Dove nomination in the, best metal album of the year, category. Wyatt Robertson and Dave Baddorf were replaced with new bassist Jim Winters and Scott Laird (who was involved with all the Believer albums and a long time friend of Kurt Bachman) picked up the violin. With "Dimensions", Believer showed they once again had evolved and as opposed to the emotional onslaught found on "Sanity Obscure" they created a very thought provoking and intellectual album. With lyrics that ponder the philosophies of Freud, Altizer, and Sarte on the existence of God to lyrics that proclaims that Possibility cannot account for actuality and that whatever happens is caused in order to be, one can not mistake Believers uncanny ability to write progressive music. They successfully combine thrash and speed, with thoughtful and intelligent lyrics. Perhaps the highlight of the Dimensions album would be the Trilogy of Knowledge, which contains four songs covering the fall of man and the life of Christ. This use of orchestration and operatic vocals once again adds many dimensions to the world of Believer, writing them down in history as one of the greatest bands in the progressive thrash metal genre. Although there was never an official break up, in the mid 90's Believer fell off the radar and left behind a unparalleled legacy that will never be forgotten. According to Joey Daub's website, the members agreed to mutually disband. Following the disbandment; Bachman and Daub did production work out of their Trauma Studios in Pennsylvania for such artists as Turmoil and Living Sacrifice. Eventually, Kurt Bachman went on to pursue a career, while Joey Daub continued on with his music career.To date: Kurt can be found at Howard Hughes Medical Institute, while Joey is a member of Fountain of Tears and a side project called Year of Plenty. Here are some recent quotes from Joeys website www.joeydaub.com:"...Kurt and I got together recently and finished up our first new believer tune! And there are two other tunes in process. We are both enjoying writing and we like the direction the material is going. Due to all that is going on with our schedules, it is difficult to get together a lot. However, we will continue to put time aside for this project. One last thing, if anyone has or knows anyone who has any bootlegged believer concerts or footage of the band please get in touch with me. We are trying to gather this for a possible dvd.".
Believer is a Christian thrash metal band.Extraction from Morality This was their first album, I believe (and best). No one sounds like them and no one ever will. Great thrash with a Christian message (even though I don't care about that) and a great roughly-melodic sound. I love the title track, Unity, Shadow of Death (the best). All songs are great though. Check out Sanity Obscure, their second album, which was more creative and diverse, but perhaps less melodic overall, and not as technical (if thrash can be considered technical.Extraction From Mortality is more of an album you listen to just merely for entertainment as opposed to art. This is album is some-what technical as compared to their later stuff which is EXTREMELY technical with their complex riffs and odd time signatures. However, this album has my number 1 favorite song of Believer and could possibly be in my top 10 all time favorite songs. The song is called Shadow Of Death, which is also the very first song of believer that I have heard. What is awesome about this album however is the production and the great crunch used in the guitars.No one sounds like them and no one ever will. Great thrash with a Christian message (even though I don't care about that) and a great roughly-melodic sound. I love the title track, Unity, Shadow of Death (the best). All songs are great though. Check out Sanity Obscure, their second album, which was more creative and diverse, but perhaps less melodic overall, and not as technical (if thrash can be considered technical.i'm really not sure what to say.Believer actually speaks for themselves. a true band of their own kind. the downside of the whole deal is the sound or production or sumthin.it might take a little while(as for me) to get used to,seriously,let it play out a few times(crank it in your car or headphones)you'll get the jist of it.the dudes voice kinda lingers in the brain so you can either like it or (as for me) let it become part of the music. simple as that, like it or not.If you like metal that is technical in nature you will love this. Time changes abound as do guitar solos. Though i will never profess to know a lot about styles of metal this seems to me to be old school metal. This is a thinking metal fans record. The lyrical references listed in the liner notes include Stephen Hawking,Einstein,Rudolf Theil and others as well as the NIV Study Bible.The lyrics are heady stuff for sure but that fits well with the music. This record is very open about God and mans attempts to place reason and logic before Him. Lyrically i give this record high marks. The lyrics fit perfectly with the music. Intelligently written music needs intelligently written lyrics. I must admit i don't care for the female vocals in the last few tracks. They sound to operatic for my taste but the operatic vocals do fit in with the theme of "Trilogy Of Knowledge" which is a four track suite that ends the record. Still i would have preferred the record without the operatic vocals. Stand out tracks include "Gone"."Dimentia","What Is But Cannot Be" and "No Apology". This is a great record that i highly recommend to any fan of metal music. I wish i had bought it at that record store years ago.About Dimensions It wasn't as heavy as heavy as Extraction From Mortality and Sanity Obscure, but however, it was very melodic and without a doubt, the most technical of the three that Believer released. At first, I thought that Extraction was the best and Sanity Obscure was rushed, and that this album was beyond rushed, but after REALLY listening to it, I would say that this is their best work. Unfortunately, I cannot say which album I find to favor the most, but I will say that it is not Extraction From Mortality. Even though Extraction has my number one favorite Believer song called Shadow Of Death, The album itself is a let down compared to the later two. Sanity Obscure is kind of between Extraction and Dimensions because Sanity obscure is very technical like Dimensions, and is Heavy/Head-banging like Extraction. Most people seem to favor that album the best, when I personally do not know what to think. I will say that I do find this masterpiece to CURRENTLY be my favorite since I haven't completely listened to Sanity Obscure like I did Dimensions. Reguardless of the fact that this album is not as heavy as the other two nor do I think it was intended to be, it still delivers strongly to Thrash Metal, but more in an artwork type of way with the melody and technique used in it. The best work is not always the favorite, which is why I am still confused as to what album is my favorite, but it doesn't change the FACT that this album is the bands best work,This album is ridiculously good. Alot of people refuse to listen to Believer because they have Christian lyrics, but those people are just idiots. Believer completely blew every single one of their secular counterparts (Atheist, Cynic, Death, Pestilence, etc.) out of the water with this release, and no progressive metal band came even close until Spastic Ink released "Ink Compatible" 11 years later, which is pretty equal with Dimensions in my book. The lyrics are incredibly intelligent (and most non-Christians that rip on them don't have any idea what Believer is even talking about half the time with Dimensions), the music is extremely technical and brilliant, and the production is perfect for this sort of release (I wouldn't change a single thing about the sound on this album). The crazy sound effects are still cool every time I hear them (and I've been listening to this album literally several times a week for years) and the gruff vocals are terrific. If you don't have this album and you claim to be a fan of progressive/technical thrash metal, your collection is a joke(http://www.holymetalrob.com/)