CONTROL DENIED
The Fragile Art Of Existence (Reissue)
Relapse (2010)
Rating: 9.5/10
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Control Denied was the brainchild of Death frontman Chuck Schuldiner, who sadly passed away in 2001. Best described as progressive heavy metal, this project also featured the talents of guitarist Shannon Hamm, drummer Richard Christy and bass player Steve DiGiorgio, all who’d worked with Chuck on past Death albums. Control Denied were fronted by Tim Aymar.
This eight-track opus, originally released in 1999, seemed a natural progression for Chuck, as this time he preferred to step away from the microphone and concentrate on those complex structures and distinctive solos. Tim Aymar, multi-instrumentalist, stepped in to fill the vocal void, adding extra metal beef to proceedings as the rest of the band weaved their magic wands to create a sublime heavy metal experience.
At times, Control Denied have a wondrous Euro metal feel to their sound. The crisp production of Jim Morris gave an almost Euro Gothic feel as album opener ‘Consumed’ stumbles in on a mournful guitar whine and bubbly bass before the band rush headlong into a pounding power metal surge. Aymar’s vocals are crystal clear and soaring, Christy’s drums pummel the ears, and as expected Schuldiner and Hamm’s guitars are well defined, expressing cosmic dynamics as they change gears, displaying varying moods.
‘Breaking The Broken’ is equally pensive, introducing itself with a mystical chant and slow, simmering bass and chug. DiGiorgio is a staggering talent; his bass swarms all over this track. Two-minutes in and we’re treated to an almost jazzy thrash workout with that juddering bass until Aymar soars again over the clouds of rage. The track then starts to gallop in classic metal fashion before slowing the pace.
The seven-minute ‘Expect The Unexpected’ has a stronger death metal feel to its intro and then hurtles into a Megadeth circa-Rust In Piece (1990) style of thrash. Aymar’s vocals take on a more ominous sneer, but you know that within these seven or so minutes you’re going to be treated to a smorgasbord of intricacy. Chuck comes to the fore on this track, injecting his solos into the mire as DiGiorgio’s bass rumbles and Christy’s drums explode.
‘What If…?’ is relatively short and sweet in comparison to some of the more gargantuan tracks on offer, but it’s still as breathtaking; a slow, creeping number featuring some bizarre bass playing. ‘When The Link Becomes Missing’ somehow merges a classic metal feel with Cynic-style anomalies, never once letting the listener settle on a riff. Aymar displays a great deal of soul on this one, and this continues onto the epic sounding ‘Believe’ which features some perplexing guitar work.
The melodic ‘Cut Down’ features a discordant mid-section before sweeping us away into the nine-minute title track; a leviathan of melodic metal featuring excellent vocal effects and full-throttle drums and crystal clean guitars.
Another album was said to have been in the pipeline when Chuck was taken from us, but what he’s left behind is an almost arrogant discography that encompasses some of the most confounding metal music ever put to wax.
This 2010 reissue of The Fragile Art Of Existence features an extra disc of nine demo tracks, and collectors will no doubt find themselves salivating over a three-disc deluxe edition containing even more demos, some of which feature Chuck on vocals.
And so, there you have it, proof once again at just how huge a talent Mr. Schuldiner was. Here’s hoping we finally get to hear that second elusive album. Our existence may be fragile, but Chuck’s back catalogue goes from strength to strength.
Neil Arnold
