First off, I have to get something off my chest. There are TOO MANY bands with the word Sepulchral or a variation of it, and it drives me crazy. In part because some are really good, and trying to remember who it was I liked, which I wanted to buy, or even have to review, I tell you it makes for a pain in my keester. For example, I am currently reviewing 2 bands with said name, and or a variation of it. So with that said, let me step off my soapbox and let’s get down to the nitty-gritty, shall we?.
I think at times we can all be guilty of judging a band’s material or sound just from cover art, the band’s name, or even the logo. As I gaze upon this particular release, I think to myself, “Oh great, another Entombed clone with the Boss HM-2 sound set on eleven”. Well, color me embarrassed because upon pressing play, I was hit with a heavy and expansive production that exudes an almost monolithic aura and forgoes any of my preconceived notions of the expected guitar sound. The guitar tone itself is heavy and bombastic. Less grime and grit but more weighty and epic in nature. Now I know they are not quite the same stylistically, but they remind me of a more Death/Doom version of Necrophobic. Mainly because of the melodic nature of the songwriting and the guitar harmonies involved.
After a few listens, I start to absorb the material, and I start taking in what the band is about and their sound as a whole. They definitely have that SweDeath core, but they have incorporated the aforementioned melodic stylings and a bit of an epic Doom quality. Two members are from the now-deactivated Solothus, so I can understand where that element is coming from. They have a bit of history behind them and a stable of quality releases. I will give a tip of the hat to the members for maintaining a solid and consistent output throughout the years. With this release, I was just taken with the overall production values of the album. I think it allows for the band’s approach to shine in a different light. Granted, they obviously have the Death Metal sound, that slight (very slight) Doom nature, and maybe also tidbits of early In Flames (musically, not vocally), which sort of sets them apart from the glut that is this
category.
There is much you can take from this release, be it the spot-on production or the varied approach to the songwriting. It lends itself to a different, varied, and maybe a bit more dynamic listening experience. I also really dig the bit of Slayer-isms mid-way through the song ‘Beneath the Dismal Tides’. Take the time, and you will know what I’m talking about. Even the amazing cover art, with its use of colors and dark foreboding nature, sets the mood of what you are about to embark upon when listening to this album.
If I do have one minor gripe, tho. It is that the vocalist is a tad monotone and one-dimensional in his delivery. Mind you, I really hate saying that because he is the former vocalist of Solothus (RIP), and I loved that band.
You can do no wrong with this or even with the band’s back catalogue.
