CoC : Various - Better Undead Than Alive : Review

Various - _Better Undead Than Alive_
(Code666, 2003)
by: Pedro Azevedo (8 out of 10)

Here's a new concept: a label compilation that's really interesting for the average listener. That's what Code666 have worked hard to produce with this _Better Undead Than Alive_ double CD. Throughout the compilation, all the tracks have been merged together to create a continuous flow, and the songs themselves were chosen not only with a view to represent each band's sound but to fit the overall mood of the compilation as well. The material on offer can be divided intro three kinds: remastered album tracks, unreleased advance tracks and exclusive compilation tracks. The two CDs feature a total of 24 songs, ranging from one to three from each of the following bands: Void of Silence, Aborym, Diabolicum, Thee Maldoror Kollective, Rakoth, Bloodshed, Enid, Negura Bunget, Handful of Hate, Ephel Duath, Aghora, Atrox, Manes, Unmoored and Abortus. There is little point in examining each of the bands individually on this review, as most of them have either already been reviewed in CoC or are likely to be at some stage. The mood is generally dark, leaning mostly towards more-or-less technological black metal (Aborym, Diabolicum, Thee Maldoror Kollective and, with a major doom component, Void of Silence), but remains varied while trying to avoid undesirably jarring contrasts. Not that you don't get a few, though -- sandwiching Bloodshed's powerful black/death metal between Rakoth's and Enid's brands of medieval/fantasy heavy/black metal, for instance, could scarcely have had a different result. It is Romania's mystical black metallers Negura Bunget who pick up from there, so you can imagine the contrast with Enid's minstrel-like vocals. Handful of Hate, another ripping black/death act, then precede Ephel Duath's avantgarde black metal in a similarly jarring passage. This is then followed by Aghora's and Atrox's progressive female-fronted material, in a much better flowing sequence that temporarily drags the focus of the compilation away from the darker shades, before Void of Silence close the first CD with their doom/black metal. The second CD's first half is mostly a continuation of the first CD's second half, with more lightweight bands such as Rakoth, Atrox and Enid taking up most of its playing time, in spite of efforts by Thee Maldoror Kollective and Unmoored. From there on, the second CD becomes a lot more like the first half of the first CD (feeling lost yet?), with the darker bands dominating until the end (questionable techno remix of an Aborym track included). Considering that this is a showcase for all the bands on Code666, it is hardly a crime that the label has some variety in its roster, and they clearly did put some care into smoothing these differences as much as possible. Where the compilation further impresses is through the interesting movie-like artwork and layout, and especially its multimedia bonuses. You get well-presented band photos and bio, a Negura Bunget video (which Code666 point out was shot in the Carpathian mountains) and a few MP3 bonuses -- including five Aghora live tracks with reasonable sound quality. Code666 clearly worked hard on this, and they have succeeded in creating an interesting compilation that constitutes a worthwhile purchase for the general public rather than just serving as a promotional tool.

Contact: http://www.code666.net

(article published 5/4/2003)

ALBUMS
29/12/2010	C Drishner	8	Various - Tribute to H.P. Lovecraft - Gate 1: Yogsothery - Chaosmogonic Rituals of Fear
14/12/2010	N Shahpazov	8.5	Various - Whom the Moon a Nightsong Sings
2/4/2010	Q Kalis		Various - Rising of Yog-Sothoth: Tribute to Thergothon
8/1/2009	C Drishner		Various - Anthrosphere Volume 1
17/9/2008	P Azevedo	7.5	Various - My Own Wolf: A New Approach to Ulver
9/8/2008	Q Kalis	7.5	Various - Metal Message IV
22/6/2008	Q Kalis	8	Various - ...Where Tattered Clouds Are Stranding
17/6/2008	Q Kalis	5.5	Various - Extreme Metal Inside
13/6/2008	Q Kalis	8	Various - Might Is Right: Nordic Warchants II
11/6/2008	Q Kalis	4.5	Various - Bajo el Signo de la Violencia: Tribute to Masacre
7/10/2007	Q Kalis	7	Various - Rise of the Eastern Blood
24/7/2007	Q Kalis	8	Various - Might Is Right - Nordic Warchants Pt. I
4/7/2007	Q Kalis	7	Various - Aural Holograms Vol. I
20/4/2007	Q Kalis	8.5	Various - Noise.IL
15/4/2007	Q Kalis		Various - Fine-Tuned Disasters
5/4/2007	Q Kalis		Various - Defaced and Split
25/3/2007	Q Kalis	8	Various - Fuck the Modern World
8/3/2007	J Ulrey	7.5	Various - Intoxicated Vol. 4
24/2/2007	K Sarampalis	7	Various - Metal Message Vol III
28/1/2007	Q Kalis	8.5	Various - A Reassuring Voice on the Television
9/1/2007	Q Kalis	7.5	Various - Hauautagused Karjed Vol. II: Estonian Extreme Metal Compilation
26/12/2006	Q Kalis	8	Various - All My Dead Friends
7/11/2005	N Shahpazov	7	Various - The Wood Brothers
10/1/2005	T DePalma	7.5	Various - Listen Without Distraction - A Tribute to Kyuss
19/10/2004	P Azevedo	7	Various - Fenriz Presents... The Best of Old-School Black Metal
17/1/2004	A McKay	3.5	Various - Defenders of Metal Volume 1 - The Seduction
16/11/2003	X Hoose	7	Various - Japanese Assault
31/8/2003	J Montague	8	Various - Barbaric Onslaught (Australian Metal Attack)
29/5/2003	Q Kalis	7.5	Various - Victory Through Total Domination: Compilation No. III
27/5/2003	A Wee	7	Various - The Obsolete View
31/3/2003	P Azevedo	7.5	Various - Svartmetall Compilation 2001
26/3/2003	X Hoose	4	Various - Covered in Blood: A Tribute to Slayer
12/4/2002	B Meloon	6	Various - Czech Assault
12/4/2002	Q Kalis	7.5	Various - The Bells of the Mystical Empire
14/1/2002	A Wee	6	Various - Hellion Promo Vol II
14/1/2002	A McKay	7	Various - Colorado Colossus
19/10/2001	Q Kalis	7.5	Various - Beauty in Darkness 5
12/8/2001	A McKay	2	Various - Brazilian Assault
12/8/2001	V Eldefors	7	Various - Triarchy of Vasconia
12/8/2001	A Wee	9	Various - Black Metal Blitzkrieg
13/5/2001	A Wee	8	Various - The Return of Darkness and Hate
13/5/2001	A McKay	8	Various - Requiems of Revulsion: A Tribute to Carcass
13/3/2001	A McKay	4	Various - Chamber Metal: Neo-Classical Metal Guitar
13/3/2001	A McKay	6.5	Various - Overload 2: Tribute to Metallica
10/1/2001	A McKay	6.5	Various - Scream Forth Blasphemy: A Tribute to Morbid Angel
20/11/2000	A McKay	2	Various - Dead Zeppelin - A Metal Tribute to Led Zeppelin
20/11/2000	A McKay	6.5	Various - In the Sign of the Horns - A Tribute to Venom
20/11/2000	G Sanchez	7	Various - Economi$ed
20/11/2000	G Sanchez	8	Various - Coalescence
25/10/2000	A McKay	6	Various - Gateway to Hell 2: Tribute to Slayer
25/10/2000	A McKay	7	Various - King Diamond Tribute
25/10/2000	A Cantwell	7.5	Various - World of Pain -- A Tribute to Sepultura
25/10/2000	A Cantwell	7.5	Various - Jump in the Pit -- A Tribute to Testament
25/10/2000	A McKay	9.5	Various - Root of All Evil 2000 2nd Anniversary Sampler
12/8/2000	A McKay	5	Various - Raise the Flag of Hate: A Tribute to Kreator
12/8/2000	A McKay	8	Various - Curse of the Demon: A Tribute to Mercyful Fate
25/5/2000	A Bromley	3	Various - Power From the North
25/5/2000	A Bromley	7.5	Various - Panther: A Tribute to Pantera
5/3/2000	A Bromley	8.5	Various - Holy Dio: Tribute to Ronnie James Dio
15/1/2000	M Noll	2	Various - A Tribute to Accept
15/1/2000	P Azevedo	8	Various - To Magic...
9/12/1999	P Schwarz	8	Various - 21st Century Media Blitz Vol. 2
9/12/1999	A Bromley	8.5	Various - Never Give In: A Tribute to Bad Brains
12/8/1999	A McKay	3	Various - A Tribute to Hell: Satanic Rites
12/8/1999	P Schwarz	3	Various - ECW Extreme Music
12/8/1999	G Sanchez	6	Various - Lobot Manual
12/8/1999	G Sanchez	7.5	Various - Needlepoint
12/8/1999	A McKay	9	Various - White: Nightmares in the End
7/7/1999	A Wasylyk	7	Various - Death... Is Just the Beginning 5
15/6/1999	P Azevedo	5	Various - Psyclone Sinphonies
15/6/1999	A Wasylyk	6.5	Various - Beauty in Darkness Vol. 3
15/6/1999	A McKay	8.5	Various - Smells Like Team Spirit III
19/5/1999	G Sanchez	6.5	Various - Extreme America 3
19/5/1999	A McKay	7	Various - Straight to Hell -- A Tribute to Slayer
19/5/1999	G Sanchez	7.5	Various - Freak Animal Zine #11 CD
19/5/1999	P Azevedo	8	Various - Where We Go, Others Can Only Follow...
19/5/1999	A Cantwell	8.5	Various - Chords of the Grave
19/5/1999	A McKay	8.5	Various - To Live Is Ever to Be in Danger
14/3/1999	A Bromley	7	Various - Black Mark Tribute II
14/3/1999	A McKay	7	Various - In Conspiracy With Satan
14/3/1999	G Sanchez	8	Various - WWF - The Music Vol. 3
13/2/1999	A Cantwell	8.5	Various - Full Moon Productions Sampler CD
16/1/1999	P Schwarz	5	Various - Roadkill
16/1/1999	P Schwarz	7	Various - Feuersturm Vol. II: The Ultimate Storm
16/1/1999	P Schwarz	8	Various - Wardance
16/1/1999	A Cantwell	8	Various - From Kaamos to Midnight Sun -- Finnish Metal Compilation
19/11/1998	A Bromley	8	Various - GRRRR!!: Extreme Music From Vancouver
1/10/1998	P Schwarz	7	Various - Cry Now, Cry Later -- Vols. 3 & 4
1/10/1998	A Cantwell	7	Various - Songs From the Penalty Box: Volume 2
1/10/1998	P Schwarz	8	Various - Amduscias
1/9/1998	P Azevedo	6	Various - High Radiation 4
1/9/1998	A Bromley	7	Various - Call on the Dark II
1/9/1998	B Meloon	7	Various - Bestial Sampler: 1997-1998
1/9/1998	A Wasylyk	8	Various - Fiesta Comes Alive!
1/9/1998	P Schwarz	9	Various - Statements of Intent
8/7/1998	A Wasylyk	6	Various - Blackened III
8/7/1998	A Wasylyk	7	Various - Statements of Intent
8/7/1998	A Wasylyk	8	Various - Sepultural Feast: A Tribute to Sepultura
7/6/1998	P Azevedo		Various - Peaceville X
7/6/1998	A Bromley	7	Various - Call To Irons: A Tribute to Iron Maiden
7/6/1998	A Wasylyk	7	Various - Voyager: 10 Years Nuclear Blast
7/6/1998	B Meloon	8	Various - Until the End of Time
1/1/1998	A Wasylyk	5	Various - A Declaration of Independence
1/1/1998	A Gaudrault	7	Various - Masters of Misery - Black Sabbath: The Earache Tribute
1/1/1998	A Bromley	7	Various - Untitled (ten)
17/11/1997	A Bromley	8	Various - Earache Unplugged 2
14/7/1997	A Wasylyk	3	Various - The Kanada Compilation
14/7/1997	Z Tsarfin	7	Various - Awakenings: Females in Extreme Music
14/7/1997	A Bromley	9	Various - A Black Mark Tribute
7/6/1997	A Bromley	8	Various - The Ozz-Fest: Live
13/5/1997	P Azevedo	8	Various - Out of the Dark Live Compilation
13/5/1997	S Hoeltzel	9	Various - World Domination II
5/2/1997	A Bromley	5	Various - Frozen Dawn III
5/2/1997	A Bromley	8	Various - The Absolute Supper
2/1/1997	A Wasylyk	9	Various - Beneath the Icy Floe: A Projekt Sampler V.4
12/8/1996	A Wasylyk	7	Various - Black Mark Attack
12/8/1996	G Filicetti	9	Various - ...And Even Wolves Hid Their Teeth
17/7/1996	A Bromley	9	Various - Beauty In Darkness
9/6/1996	S Hoeltzel	7	Various - Nordic Metal: A Tribute to Euronymous
18/4/1996	N Bassett	7	Various - In Memory of Celtic Frost
14/3/1996	A Bromley	7	Various - Identity II
14/3/1996	N Bassett	8	Various - With Us Or Against Us
17/1/1996	G Filicetti	9	Various - Four Ways To Misery