When you open the jewel case for the cd, you'll notice the fan dedication on the back of the booklet. Take that as an invitation to destruction as you pop the disc in because as it starts, the band blasts right out of the gates and through the speakers. Peter Tägtgren and co. definitely know how to keep things fresh and heavy, and by making an album such as this that blends a lot of the sounds from their previous albums (Abducted, Final Chapter, Self-Titled, Into The Abyss, Catch 22, The Arrival, and Virus), things are really fresh to say the least. It's almost like a hybrid of all those albums with the production quality of Virus. If you're a fan looking for a little variety from Hypocrisy, this cd is perfect. If you're new, it's a perfect cd to start with.

before this came out, behemoth's "evangelion" or the black dahlia murder's "deflorate" was the best thing i heard this year. even with my bias toward hypocrisy i wasn't sure how they could top those two monster albums. but with the first listen to this modern classic i was pleasantly surprised to hear not only the best thing of 2009 but, probably the best hypocrisy album yet (even though "virus" and the "self titled" are some notable high points).

there is a crushing sound that really calls back to the early days of hypocrisy (before peter was on vox) and a mix of everything since that really pulls together for something that is in one word...Amazing. before this album i really dug hypocrisy's penchant for mid tempo songs(see "abducted" or "the final chapter"), but with this new offering (the bands 11th in case anyone didn't know), they are completely "full speed ahead". at times sounding "black metallish" thanks in part to relative new comer "horgh" (of immortal fame). furious rhythms and blinding double bass are very prevalent on this album only slowing down on a few tracks like, "global domination" and "the quest", bringing back that mid tempo pacing that really sets this band apart from other death metal acts. songs like "weed out the weak" and "valley of the damned" are out of the gate head banger's, making these two the bench mark for this release.

i cant say enough good things about this one, but i'm bias toward hypocrisy and to that effect peter tagtren in general. his side project/second band "pain" (more of an industrial/tech/heavy metal sound) is a really good band as well as his quick black metal outfit "the abyss". not to mention his various guest appearances on other records bloodbath's "nightmares made flesh" stands out the most and lock up's "pleasures pave sewers". if you're really into death metal, then this is a must buy. if you're already a hypocrisy fan...your mind was made up already.

Hypocrisy released a hell of a monster in 2005 in Virus. Before then, many would have argued that the band hadn't released a truly successful album since its self-titled 1999 opus, but I personally loved Into the Abyss and consider it among my favorites from the band. Regardless of the vacillating direction of Hypocrisy's music between 1999 and 2004, the quality was still very listenable indeed, and in 2009 Hypocrisy has released a new album that echoes more closely the intonations of Virus but unfortunately flirts with the questionable nature of the decade's earlier efforts.

With that said, A Taste of Extreme Divinity pretty much starts off where Virus left off. Valley of the Damned is a crushing, fast song, speeding along with plenty of melody as well, along with the low-shriek vocal duality that has Peter Tägtgren written all over it. It's a strong opener indeed that segues nicely into the chunkier, mid-paced, and at times downright vicious Hang Him High.

Solar Empire kicks off with a soaring, melodic style reminiscent of Windir, then bursts into chunky Amon Amarth inspired riffs that sound on the happier side of things. As one continues with the album, it becomes obvious that roughly 60% of these tracks would fit just fine on Virus, including the title track and closer, Sky is Falling Down. The former zips by with tremendous ferocity that sends chills down my spine every time I listen to it, while the latter is mid-paced but aggressively melodic, reminiscent of Into the Abyss style riffing, with a hypnotizing melodic bridge. It's an awesome song to close out the disc, for sure.

As for the remaining 40% (roughly five tracks), there are good moments scattered within, but the songs overall seem out of place, making the album falter as it attempts to retrace Virus' crushing path. You see, Virus didn't require speed or aggression to be vicious; what it needed was emotion and nasty riffs that slapped you in the face. In that savageness was a unique sense of momentum, an emotional cattle prod that struck you at the nerve. A Taste... has its own momentum as well, of commendable speed and aggression, but these tracks unfortunately make the album come off sterile when one recalls the free spirited nature of Into the Abyss, the viciousness of Virus or Abducted, and the brutality of The Final Chapter. There are even some chords reminiscent of Catch 22 (Weed out the Weak, Tamed (Filled with Fear)), which isn't altogether bad but not necessarily what I want to hear again outside that album.

I hate to say it, then, but it seems Hypocrisy is on autopilot. The album is only half ferocious and half unexciting, with the track order exacerbating the album's bipolarity since there doesn't seem to be any flow to overall progression. Indeed, the awesome songs are punctuated by the underwhelming songs and it is especially jarring because one wants to believe everything is amazing since this is Hypocrisy.

Overall, A Taste... has some very strong songs that fit nicely into Hypocrisy's catalog yet the rest seems to have been written in cruise control. These ideas may be good enough for an average band, or for a band's first release, but for a moniker as legendary as Hypocrisy this output is just barely acceptable. It's still listenable for a few weeks but it probably won't inspire the same amount of replay value as most of the band's other releases.

Awesome metal album that I really didn't know what to expect other than Peter Tatgrens reputation as a producer is impecable and I had heard songs off of the Virus album that that I remember enjoying, great reviews and Horgh playing drums on this led to a good purchase... this turned out to be one of my favorites of the year as a matter of fact, and it's received plenty a headbanging spin in the player... Horgh is behind the kit so you know the drums are Thunder straight outta blashyrkh!!! HAHAHAHA!!! Fans of excellent metal, buy this and the latest IMMORTAL record while your at it!

A Taste of Extreme Divinity is one of the best albums Hypocrisy has ever made. This album is excellent from beginnning to end with absolutely no filler. Vocals range from low to high and the songwriting takes you on a ride. Highly recommended for anyone that is a fan of death metal, metalcore, or American heavy metal.