Hidden in the Shadows - 90%
SadistAria, September 11th, 2006
"The Noise Of Time" caught my attention because it was on sale, and wasn't getting much attention, so I decided to buy it regardless of the risk in how bad Hypnotic might have been. Long story short, I'm not disappointed with this release at all!..even after having it for a while, "The Noise Of Time" is great to have around when My Dying Bride get old and decrepit. Addicts of lengthy funeral doom compositions will be pleased to every end of the earth, because this isn't like their pioneers of traditional doom metal. When you give this release a spin for the first couple times, sometimes you want to kick yourself in the teeth for ever putting your ears to such racket. This exactly how I felt, but most of the time first impressions are often misleading. Maybe it's because this style of doom should be listened to while in a windless mood, and with an open mind to match. I've opened my mind to the likes of Xasthur and such styles, but Hypnotic's "The Noise Of Time" is short, sweet, and to the point. At times it's hard to understand songs that are translated from Chinese to English, when read; as if you want the lyric to complete itself in a perfect sentence. No reason to complain here since they are actually deeply growled in English. And although Chinese is the easiest language to learn, it is the most shrewd form of dialogue, because you have to think for yourself in what it's supposed to mean (take a look at the lyrics in the beginning of The Dead, The Stranger): "Anger saddens fear All underneath Power promises fate Are black memories Desire secrets Future are fragments Brave weakness greed All emerged " A little confusing, but you get the point. In over thirty-five minutes, Hypnotic convey their darkest feelings of despair and hatred from the back of their minds though the art of music. Think of them as a less synthesized Esoteric. It's very hard to describe every inch of these four tracks, but you can say that they are gloomy in an ambient sense, yet the guitar work is patchy and minimalistic to the point where complexity doesn't matter. In case you were wondering about the riffing, it isn't really hidden or muddy like some poorly made demo tape, but they have a rather ghostly feeling in the songs; much like the flute toward the end of Subconscious Attack. Drumming is perfected in all aspects, very dry and delicate.. and it's like I said before, fast drumming doesn't have to mean great music. Everything is flawlessly consistent, and still gives off a natural aura of sonic claustrophobia to it all. For nine years Hypnotic's founder Roy has been playing drums and done vocals for both full-length releases "Black Sun" and "The Noise Of Time". The vocals aren't annoying at all, which is a damn great thing, so maybe it's because Roy has been doing them for a while that he knows how Hypnotic should appeal. With their new vocalist Wah, it is uncertain which direction Hypnotic is headed after this release. But until then, fans of Disembowelment and Thergothon... have your way with "The Noise Of Time" whenever you get your hands on it. This is certainly an unknown band from the Eastern land, and their presence should be known. Ready to get your doom on?.. Hong Kong style?