CONTROL
DENIED – The Fragile Art of Existence
Relapse Records
I doubt there is much left to say about this
masterpiece, yet I’ll try. If anyone reading this has never encountered this
colossal work, they should pause here and seek it out immediately. I still
remember the excitement I felt back in 1999 when the album was first released
through Nuclear Blast Records. I listened to it repeatedly, trying to absorb
its depth, beauty, and sheer musical vision — and even then, I couldn’t fully
grasp everything it had to offer.
The Fragile Art of Existence stands as a state‑of‑the‑art achievement not only in progressive power metal,
but in metal as a whole. It is performed by some of the finest musicians the
genre has ever produced. At the center is the mastermind Chuck Schuldiner (may
he rest in peace), supported by Steve DiGiorgio on bass and Richard Christy on
drums — both widely respected players who have since collaborated with countless
bands. Alongside them is guitarist Shannon Hamm, known for his work with DEATH,
and vocalist Tim Aymar, whose raspy, emotive delivery and technical control
evoke shades of Harry “The Tyrant” Conklin and Warrel Dane.
Musically, CONTROL DENIED can be described as the
power‑metal‑infused counterpart to DEATH, with occasional twists
reminiscent of ATHEIST — but above all, it is unmistakably the artistic vision
of Chuck Schuldiner. The production, handled by Jim Morris and Schuldiner at
Morrisound Studios, is top‑tier,
capturing both the precision and the emotional weight of the material. Travis
Smith’s cover artwork completes the package, reinforcing the album’s atmosphere
and ambition.
The album was reissued in 2008 by Metal Mind
Productions, and now Relapse Records presents a new remastered edition in two
formats: a double‑CD
slipcase and a three‑CD
deluxe digipack. Both include extensive bonus material, featuring the band’s
1996, 1997, and 1999 demos — some with Schuldiner himself on vocals — offering
a rare glimpse into the album’s evolution.
For music lovers, this is a treasure. For metal fans,
it is essential. In my view, The Fragile Art of Existence is an album that
deserves a place in every serious CD collection.
Christine Parastatidou
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