What makes Of Fracture and Failure by Ulcerate notable?

The album received significant acclaim within the underground metal community, often cited as a pivotal release that helped define the technical death metal genre. It set the stage for Ulcerate's subsequent rise in popularity and influence, leading to critical recognition from major publications like Decibel Magazine. Released on January 1, 2007, Of Fracture and Failure is Ulcerate's debut album, marking the beginning of their unique sound in the technical death metal scene. At this time, the band was establishing its identity and began to gain attention for its intricate compositions and dark thematic content.

How many songs are on Of Fracture and Failure?

Of Fracture and Failure has 9 tracks, running approximately 45 minutes.

Of Fracture and Failure

Ulcerate · 2007

45 min · 9 tracks · technical death metal

A relentless blend of dissonant melodies and complex rhythms, exploring themes of destruction through a technical death metal lens.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Praise and Negation — This opening track showcases the band's signature sound with jagged guitar riffs and rapid-fire drumming, immediately immersing listeners in their chaotic yet melodic approach.
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Martyr of the Soil — Clocking in at over seven minutes, this track exemplifies Ulcerate's ability to create atmospheric tension while seamlessly transitioning between aggressive outbursts and haunting passages.
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The Coming of Genocide — This song features an intricate arrangement that highlights both the technical prowess of the band and their capacity for emotional depth, making it a standout moment on the album.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

64 /100

Treeline

Higher than 79% of albums we've rated

The album showcases complex compositions and a distinctive sound that helped shape technical death metal.

What we noticed

Dissonant melodies are layered over aggressive rhythms, often resulting in a dense sound that challenges the listener's expectations.
Vocals are delivered in a harsh style that complements the chaotic instrumentation, adding to the overall atmosphere of destruction.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 8/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 7/10

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 Praise and Negation 4:14
2 Ad Nauseam 3:40
3 The Mask of the Satyr 6:33
4 Becoming the Lycanthrope 4:14
5 To Fell Goliath 3:47
6 Martyr of the Soil 7:34
7 Failure 2:53
8 The Coming of Genocide 3:38
9 Defaeco 8:42

What to play next

Listen next

Everything Is Fire

2009

Full Ulcerate discography Artists like Ulcerate

technical death metal

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