Ultimatum
Lex Metalis
(Retroactive)
In every mediocre sized city, in every state (or providence), there is a collection of washed out musicians who climb on a stage in a dimly lit, never cleaned dive bar and attempt to cover songs by the metal bands they’ve worshipped since before they could drive. In this case, the band is Ultimatum, the place is Albuquerque, New Mexico, and somehow they managed to make a recording of their sludgy thrash cover songs into an album entitled Lex Metalis. And it’s a pity that their ability to play their instruments decently is overshadowed by their desecrated beyond recognition versions of songs by Metallica, Megadeth, and Motorhead. Let’s just say don’t expect a lot of royalty checks to be cut. [Retroactive] Dan Frazier

Rating: 1

Now that's what I call a well written, concise and poignant review! I haven't read an Ultimatum review that good since HM reviewed Puppet of Destruction.

What an awesome review!!!

Especially loved his suggestions on how you could improve things for next time.

My thoughts on this review:

Admin wrote:

My thoughts on this review:

Ha! A review of the review.

weighing in on the debate here. i have kept quiet because i just didnt make any difference.i have known doug van pelt thru the puter for awhile and his one intern Levi and i kept in constant touch. infact, not to long ago;doug sent me postcards to give out. in regards to magazine subsrcriptions which i gladly dumped at my friends recording studio.but,something worth noting.i had taken a very special job recently and it was under the direction of accepting my position as promotional manager that i deleted my old myspace and made it with a new professional look.i am very proud and blessed and humbled and very honored to do as promotional manager anything and everything to get the word out about Ultimatum.ask ult and robert,i take this job very seriously.that said, i have contacted doug and asked for a band interview especially since i saw the magazine spread in Decible. I figured he would be eager to contact us concerning a press kit and interview.i have noticed that messages arent returned and also any comment i add to his myspace w/ picture and my postion mentioned are not posted.i can see an old one from my old site.but,nothing since taking the postion of promotional manager! i think that he and his magazine is doing a tremedous injustice to Ultimatum and their cd! i think it was a brave thing for the band do to at this juncture of their careers.branchin out out to a different audience and staying true to their metal roots and history.in doing so,scott and the guys branded these songs we all loved and made them unique and different for a new generation and makin us older folks enjoy them again.i will stand behind this decision and defend them no matter what.sure,we can all expect a bad review for time to time however, when even the most influencial christian markets have gave "Lex Metalis" a great review, and a very prominate christian magazine doesnt.that should tell you something.that doug and his team failed big time on this one! ok...i am done and off my soapbox once more.
great job Ultimatum,your very proud,blessed and humbled promotional manager.

this is a copy of what i posted in another forum.this whole thing really really pushes my buttons! the above picture is more depicting my temper at this point!!

I'm not angry at the review. I think it's somewhat funny that we AGAIN received a review like this. Puppet received an equally ridiculous review from HM from a reviewer that has since admitted he knew nothing about our style of music.

On a side note, there are two errors here. 1. The word "mediocre" is misused in the first sentence. 2. "worshipped" is spelled worshiped with one 'p', not 2.

That's why I don't read HM magazine

I find it disturbing/amusing that HM Magazine worships pop-punk and post-grunge media darlings, but constantly tries to squish good under-the-radar bands under its big fat ass, all the while claiming to be 'underground'.

On a more general note, this review is a shining example of everything I hate about high-minded 22 year old hipsters writing pretentious journalism and pulling the 'mediocre' card on bands that they don't know **** about, and are probably too brainwashed from Hinder albums to appreciate.

The songs I've heard off "Lex Metalis" sound great.

well..i could try to make robert laff and say since he is "jaded" i understand then why the "Lex Metalis" cd is green! nah..may rub him the wrong way! i am going to say that i am behind your back 100% on this one.i agree,the responsbility to an editor is to check for spelling? since when? thats why there are proofreaders! an editiors job is to make sure what is stated by the reviewer is foremost fact.and if its not to send him back to back up his review,change it or delete it all together.what upsets me is that doug runs a christian magazine and robert is correct it should be to uplift the musican/music!!! i mean the christian musican,mostly the metal musican,fights an uphill battle and oppostion in the secualar world.it is most insulting seeing to see this comming from a brother in the faith!man,everyone is just keeping me on my soapbox! lol!!

some more of my posts and thoughts on this issue!

ultmetal wrote:

I haven't read an Ultimatum review that good since HM reviewed Puppet of Destruction.

ZOMG!!! Ultimatumz stoll teh Lex Metalis ider frum anuder bannd!!!1

Next question: do you live in a state or providence?

Sutekh wrote:

Next question: do you live in a state or providence?

Or a stated providence? Or a providential state?

ultmetal wrote:

Admin wrote:

My thoughts on this review:

Ha! A review of the review.

Could not have said it better James!!!

Munkey106 wrote:

The songs I've heard off "Lex Metalis" sound great.

Thanks.

Munkey106 wrote:

The songs I've heard off "Lex Metalis" sound great.

This is quite possible the greatest praise a band could EVER get.

lmao

im very sorry to hear thats what they think!

Criticism of art is a very subjective thing. Someone's bound to not like something that seems, for most people, to be very likable. Interesting, as Ult pointed out, that they're 0 for 2 with HM reviewers (unless someone's reviewed any of the other releases?).

If Doug has any integrity, however, as an editor/publisher, he'll have to stand by his reviewer, even if he disagrees with that person's assessment of a particular release. I would think the same rules would apply at Untombed.

I haven't been able to buy the CD yet, but Scott was kind enough to send our show 3 tracks that fit our format, and we're quite pleased with them. We've been playing "Can't Get Out" off and on for months on our extreme sets.

Peace,

Jeff

It's interesting that they didn't mention anything about the Mort, VR or Moshketeers' covers

I wonder if he had even taken the time to read the booklet....Actually the review isn't even a review...Not saying anything about inspiration, quality, ultimatum's history....

oteis wrote:

I wonder if he had even taken the time to read the booklet....Actually the review isn't even a review...Not saying anything about inspiration, quality, ultimatum's history....

Exactly. It offers almost nothing in the way of 'review' of the package, just a series of insults. Whilst i understand Doug has to stand by his reviewer, the reviewer needs to actually.... uh, review, rather than heap insults without context or knowledge.

Sutekh wrote:

oteis wrote:

I wonder if he had even taken the time to read the booklet....Actually the review isn't even a review...Not saying anything about inspiration, quality, ultimatum's history....

Exactly. It offers almost nothing in the way of 'review' of the package, just a series of insults. Whilst i understand Doug has to stand by his reviewer, the reviewer needs to actually.... uh, review, rather than heap insults without context or knowledge.

Now, THAT is what someone needs to post over at HMMagazine.com
http://www.hmmagazine.com/2009/11/an-open-letter-to-an-angry-album-review-reader/

ultmetal wrote:

Sutekh wrote:

oteis wrote:

I wonder if he had even taken the time to read the booklet....Actually the review isn't even a review...Not saying anything about inspiration, quality, ultimatum's history....

Exactly. It offers almost nothing in the way of 'review' of the package, just a series of insults. Whilst i understand Doug has to stand by his reviewer, the reviewer needs to actually.... uh, review, rather than heap insults without context or knowledge.

Now, THAT is what someone needs to post over at HMMagazine.com
http://www.hmmagazine.com/2009/11/an-open-letter-to-an-angry-album-review-reader/

just did. Thanks for the link. I really hope someone else at HM will write an actual REVIEW on your album...

Perhaps Heaven's Metal will have a different review. I don't really know.

One of the many reasons I don't subscribe to HM