http://teethofthedivine.com/site/reviews/conspiracy-concordat/

Conspiracy
Concordat

(Pulverised Recrods)

This is one of the more satisfying projects from the blackened end of the spectrum that I’ve heard in a while. Of course, “blackened” implies that there is more on offer than your prototypical black metal release. That is in fact the case with Conspiracy’s Concordat, just as it it is with its predecessor Reincarnated. The work of a lone Ukrainian that resides in The Netherlands and goes by the name Carpanthian Wolf (aka Al’ Hazred of MELECHESH fame), Conspiracy seems most inspired by the world of black metal (both savage and melodic), yet substantive elements are derived from thrash and traditional heavy metal, as well as a bit of folk, making for a superbly well-rounded, well-written, and roundly ass kicking album.

A handful of the tracks fall into more of a traditional black metal category, such as the blast-and-gallop opener “Mentally Ill God” (like several others, one that takes full advantage’s of Wolf’s raspy vocal style, punctuated with deep/growled vocals and tremolo-picked melodies), “Conquerdate (Concordat),” and “Terrorized into Submission.” For as blackened and bellicose as others like “Limited to 666″ and “Die in Style” may be, the arrangements go deeper; the former boasting a bad-ass shift on the chorus to mid-tempo groove and the latter injected with thrash (the primary method of delivery) and traditional metal (e.g. the backing-shout chorus and guitar solo section). Wolf then spreads his wings on a majestic/folky track called “Faith” that comes with acoustic guitars, keyboards, and low-register choral vocals, as well as on the Viking metal flavored “Courage,” a slower tune that also utilizes choral vocals and scores big points for its mesmerizing riff cadence that flows underneath the guitar harmony. Album closer “Last Veteran” is a mid-tempo instrumental tune that straddles the line between metal and rock (the beat in particular) and closes the proceedings nicely with a smart melody and rhythm. In a peanut shell, the Wolf is quite the songwriter.

The 43 minutes of Concordat are used wisely, demanding the listener’s complete attention for each of those 2,580 seconds. I suspect the album won’t get nearly the level of notoriety and praise it deserves, which is why I’m calling you out to spread the word. Seriously, check into this conspiratorial work. You won’t be disappointed.

[Visit the band's website]

Written by Scott Alisoglu
April 21st, 2009

http://www.planetheavymetal.de/beitrag_Conspiracy%2B%252B%2BConcordat_4850.html

Conspiracy ist ein Soloprojekt, welches unter dem Pseudonym “Carpathian Wolf” eingespielt wurde und unter dessen Namen sich „Al..Hazred“ von „Melechesh“ verbirgt.
Nun, der Alleingang vom Karpatenwolf bewegt sich im Black Metal und hat durchaus einige recht geile Songs vorzuweisen. Wenn man denn genau hinhört.
Denn die völlig dumpfe und miserable Produktion, die schlimmer klingt als bei so mancher Garagenband, macht es einem fast unmöglich, die gute Qualität der Songs zu erkennen.
Musikalisch ist das ganze Album allerdings über jeden Zweifel erhaben, denn auch wenn alles im Alleingang eingespielt wurde. Man muß Respekt zollen vor dem Können des Künstlers, der hier ein durchaus interessantes und hörenswertes Album aufgenommen hat.
Wäre die Produktion aber um einiges klarer, würde man direkt erkennen, welche Perle hier vor einem liegt. So allerdings muss man sich in Geduld üben und ein wenig Toleranz mitbringen um diesem Album etwas abzugewinnen. Nichtsdestotrotz, wenn man all diese Mankos abzieht, bleibt ein Album, welches die Sammlung wirklich bereichert.

http://www.musik.terrorverlag.de/rezensionen.php?select_cd=8820

Nachdem bereits 1995 alle weiteren Mitglieder die Band verlassen hatten, machte sich Mainman Carpathian Wolf (alias Al'Hazred von MELECHESH) aus der Ukraine auf in die Niederlande, um von dort an seine Songs im Alleingang einzutüten. Mit „Reincarnated“ konnte man schon gut punkten und nun soll mit „Concordat“ nachgelegt werden.

Dies gelingt auch recht ordentlich, bietet CONSPIRACY doch eine starke Performance aus fiesen Black Metal-Attacken, epischen Passagen und klassischer Metal-Arbeit. Dabei tauchen immer mal wieder Parallelen zu seiner bekannteren Band MELECHESH wie auch zu den Heroen von BATHORY auf, was den Songs sehr gut zu Gesicht steht. So knallen z.B. “Mentally Ill God“ und das Titelstück als massive Black Metal-Brocken aus den Boxen. „Limited to 666“ trumpft dagegen mit klassischer Thrash-Action auf und überzeugt durch satten Groove und packende Lead-Arbeit an der Axt. „Courage“ und „Faith“ präsentieren dann die nordische Inspiration in Form von getragenen Melodien, akustisch-folkigen Einlagen und gemäßigteren, fast cleanen Vocals.

So bietet Carpathian Wolf mit dem neuen CONSPIRACY-Werk ein abwechslungsreiches Release mit gut arrangierten Songs auf hohem spielerischen Niveau, ohne dieses jedoch zu sehr raushängen zu lassen. Eine kleine negative Überraschung gibt es allerdings doch. So soll das Mastering immerhin von Andy LaRoque (KING DIAMOND) übernommen haben, der aber aus der an sich sehr dumpfen Produktion wohl nicht mehr viel rausholen konnte. Damit verliert „Concordat“ leider einiges an Energie, die es bräuchte, um einen wirklichen Kracher zu landen. Der sollte dann aber beim nächsten Album absolut drin sein!

Fafnir (07.05.2009)

http://www.visions-underground.com/de/cd-review/conspiracy-concordat.php

Conspiracy "Concordat"

Punkte: 8,5/10

 Daniel/ V.U.

30.4.2009
Unter dem Pseudonym Al.. Hazred dürfte „Conspiracy“- Alleinherrscher Carpathian Wolf einigen ein Begriff durch seine Tätigkeit als Melechesh- Bassist sein. Nachdem Conspiracy nun schon einige Jahre bestehen, und seit dem ausscheiden sämtlicher weiterer Bandmitglieder wie gesagt von Carpathian Wolf alleine weitergeführt werden , erschien 2006, über zehn Jahre nach Gründung der Band das Debüt von Conspiracy und konnte einiges an Aufmerksamkeit erregen. Weitere drei Jahre danach kommt mit dem Zweitling „Concordat“ ein weiteres hammermäßiges Album auf den Markt, welches mit fiesem Black Metal, gepaart mit fulminanten Melodien und erstklassigem Songwriting aufwarten kann. Überhaupt kann man sagen dass man für Conspiracy die langjährigen Arbeitgeber von Carpathian Wolf, Melechesh, durchaus gut als Referenz hernehmen kann. Der größte Teil der Kompositionen wildert hauptsächlich im High-Speed Bereich, wird aber erfreulicherweise immer wieder durch getragene, epische Parts aufgelockert wie im Titeltrack oder im gänzlich ruhiger gehaltenen, an selige „Bathory“- Zeiten erinnernden Siebenminüter „Faith“.

Für Anhänger der alten Quorthon- Glanz taten, oder von z.B. Marduk dürfte Conspiracy auf jeden Fall interessant sein. Wer jedoch ein Originalexemplar von „Concordat“ abgreifen möchte sollte sich beeilen, da das Album als auf 1000 Stück limitierte Auflage erscheint. Der Vollständigkeit halber sei noch erwähnt, dass das Album von niemand geringerem als Andy LaRoque gemastert und mit einem Cover- Artwork von Dan Seagrave ( Morbid Angel, Entombed, Pestilence ) verfeinert wurde.

http://www.powerofmetal.dk/reviews09/conspiracy_review.htm

Conspiracy

Concordat

Rating 73 / 100

Style:      Blackened metal

Release date: May 12th 2009

Conspiracy is a one man project: Carpathian Wolf. He was born in Western Ukraine but is now settled in The Netherlands. In the Biography on the labels site, they don't want to mention in which band he has played over the past years. Insiders know of course that he was part of Melechesh (under pseudo: Al Hazred). But he left, so lets talk about his band Conspiracy.

The music on this album is more than just black metal. Wolf has put in more old school thrash and even some traditional heavy metal. Besides that he has put in a bit folk as well. The song "Faith" has influences from Bathory's album Hammerheart in it. But mainly it is black/thrash metal that we get. Positive thing about using other influences than just black metal is that there is more variety in the different songs. Just black metal from A-Z is not my personal thing, because of the overkill. This is a record I can listen to completely without getting bored after a while.

The vocals are what you can expect from the genre; screaming aggressive, low growling and grunting snarls. The guitars have enough melody and in a way it sometimes makes me remind of the first Occult album 'Prepare to Meet Thy Doom'. First 4 tracks are very up-tempo", the fifth track is slower and as I already said, with Bathory influences.

All in all a variable album for fans of bands like Destruction, Venom, Bathory and Marduk or black fans in general. Those still reading this review should check it out.                                      

http://heavymetal.about.com/od/c/gr/conspiracy-concordat.htm

The Bottom Line

The latest project from Al Hazred (aka Carpathian Wolf), formerly of Melechesh frequently rips at ludicrous speed in an imposing one-man black-death-thrash gig.

Pros

·                  Often faster than the ex-president’s exodus from Washington after the new one was sworn in.

·                  Insane guitar shredding, particularly on “Courage.”

·                  “Limited to 666” one of the most inventive tracks of the album with killer thrash, mosh and grooves.

Cons

While “Faith” lumbers agreeably instrument-wise, the vocal mix is off-putting.

Description

·                  Released May 12, 2009 on Pulverised Records.

·                  Featuring Carpathian Wolf on all instruments and vocals.

·                  Mastered by Andy LaRocque of King Diamond.

Guide Review - Conspiracy - 'Concordat'

Since stepping down from Melechesh as Al Hazred, Carpathian Wolf has assimilated nearly all forms of metal surrounding his bustling mind. Concordat is thus the collective swirl of Bathory, Ensiferum, Burzum, Tyr and Finntroll spun with proud meticulousness.

Though the Wolf has had to farm out all instrumental duties in Conspiracy unto himself (as opposed to the earlier incarnation of the group which began in the mid-nineties), the new and certainly improved Conspiracy amalgamates the diverse styles of extreme metal on Concordat in entertaining fashion.

It’s largely perceptible Carpathian Wolf utilizes bpm-happy drum machines for generous portions of the first half of Concordat to give songs such as “Mentally Ill God,” “Die in Style” and “Conquerdate (Concordat)” outrageous bursts of thrash. Nevertheless, Wolf is outright proficient with his layered guitars to the point he could fool some into believing Conspiracy was back in full numbers. Then again, the second half of the album features a heavier lean on live drumming it only escalates the impressiveness of Carpathian Wolf’s musical prowess, using “Courage” as a blazing example.

As Concordat bears a heavy kindred spirit to black metal (chiefly from Wolf’s raspy lizard vocals), this is a thrash album at heart with oodles of death and black metal subtleties filtering through its underbelly. Or in the case of the slower-paced “Faith” and “Last Veteran,” helpings of doom, power and Viking metal manifest amidst Carpathian Wolf’s demanding guitar playing and knotty beat patterns.

Loads of black metal acts are one-man operations, which is well and good for some but definitely not all. In the case of the newer Conspiracy, the lone wolf act out of the Carpathians has set a high standard of individual achievement with this infinitely busy yet well-schooled endeavor.

We decided to publish these guidelines for the people who want to be friends with the band on myspace and/or review it in their magazine, webzine etc.

This band is not responsible for any information not coming directly from the band.

Do not print information you are not sure about, ask us and you’ll get all the info you want.

All music and artwork is copyrighted. Please ask permission first if you want to publish or broadcast our music.

Pulverised Records has a permission to print and sell limited quantities of CD’s of Conspiracy under a license. Conspiracy owns all the publishing and other rights of its music. The artwork is a property of Dan Seagrave.

Even minor threats concerning our freedom of speech and the freedom of worship in the Netherlands and EU will be forwarded directly to the police without prior warning. Therefore, consider carefully the tone in which you address the band about any issues concerning religion or your political views.

If you are offended by the content of our art - we have nothing to discuss, forward your complaint to the law enforcement authorities.

We value all the comments about our music, generic comments with ads will be deleted.

We do not like to be associated with any organizations or personalities associated with any governments, political platforms, any religious confessions or their opponents.

Carpathian Wolf is born in a town which today belongs to the state of Ukraine. However he is not Ukrainian by citizenship or ethnicity. Please do not confuse people by labeling the music on the basis of country of origin. The fact that somebody is (for example) Norwegian, does not mean that he is better in making music than, say, Portuguese. Ethnicity is relevant when you want to describe the mood but it shouldn’t ad or reduce the value of the music.

This band is on Myspace for other reasons than politics, however if we see ANY sign of hatred or discrimination towards ANY ethnicity in your profile you cannot be our friend on Myspace.