Review Summary: Feel the fire flow within you.
When one performs an act of sin, it is said that they are sentenced to damnation within the realms of Hell, for all eternity. They are left famished of light, happiness and the will to exist in any form, ethereal or real. It is safe to say that there is no amicable introduction to this condemnation, and the same can be said for this record. From the second it is ignited into play, everything erupts in a thunderous fashion.
The drums hurdle into play and resonate a ferocious stampede, trampling the listener in their sheer vehemence. They are backed up by an enormously dense bass, so thick each pulse could be found on the Richter Scale. These two instruments mould together exquisitely, forming an impenetrable backbone to the record, which supports it every second of the way. Yet, this record does not entirely accommodate a suppressingly ponderous sound. This is thanks to the guitars, as they engender melody in the mix, granting some much needed variety. This can be found within tracks such as 'Victus', where a solemn guitar melody eases its way into a tremolo riff, reinforced by sluggish violins, before transcending back into the sovereign of perdition. Also, making their appearance in a healthy quantity are the vocals, which are an attribute of the record which flawlessly represent the tenebrosity emitted by the instruments. They hiss, screech and growl like a rapacious harpy swooping to hurl the listener into the depths of the towering flames crafted by the artist at hand. This is unequivocally a factor which may drive some towards the record, and others from it. To say that the vocals are bestial is an understatement of the upmost extent, and this may simply be too much for some fans of less devastating Doom Metal.
Conjured up from all this is the harrowing atmosphere. This is reminiscent of the fumes forged by a volcano. Black, scolding, inescapable and so incomprehensibly opaque it is as though one could drown within its charcoal ridden grasp. It's consummated presence in the record makes it one to disconcert even the harshest of souls, and a true force to be reckoned with.
Unfortunately, this record is not without its flaws. It is noticeable throughout the record's duration that there is never a large change in sound, or any considerable curveballs thrown the listeners way. This can render the listener somewhat unimpressed by the sounds being created by the end of the record, as they are simply not as impactful as they were at the start. Furthermore, the record suffers a similar problem from its colossally lengthed songs. They begin to drag a little by the time they come to a close, so if a little fat was trimmed off them, they would most likely make a more imposing impact.
With all these things considered, it is safe to say that this record is a success. The negatives are easily superseded by the positives, although they still are noticeable. As well as this, a journey through conflagration has been carved for the listener, taking them through tunnels of brimstone and darkness. A perfect picture is delineated for what lies on the other side. Whilst this subject of hell is somewhat cliché within the musical genre of Metal, it is not often portrayed as well as it is here. From this, comes a record that can truly be taken seriously, and enjoyed by those searching for Doom Metal being pushed to its limits.
