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Shaarimoth – Devildom

shaarimoth – devildom

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In many ways Norwegian Death Metallers Shaarimoth are a rare breed. Not only do they come from a massively Black Metal dominated country with little to no tradition in Death Metal, but even more so that the band never felt the urge to rush themselves into releasing one piece after another. In fact, the band’s roots go as deep as to the mid 90’s but only delivered their debut full-length in 2005, a good decade after their initial inception. But they even took 12 years to complete its successor, ‘Temple Of The Adversarial Fire’ was brought forth in 2017 through their new home of W.T.C. Productions. A label that is not quite known for its dedication to Death Metal either. Yet, those familiar with the band’s output will agree that label and band are actually more than compatible on many levels.

Although the time in between albums is significantly less and in the meantime we got to wrap our heads around the 2021-released split double LP with Thy Darkened Shade, Amestigon and Inconcessus Lux Lucis, ‘Devidom’ still arrived seven years after the previous piece of work. And most likely that is exactly where its strength and magic is to be found. In a strong quality-over-quantity ethics Shaarimoth has always been able to strike with unexpected resoluteness.

Because of their reasonable unproductiveness and, albeit to a lesser extent, their other characteristics such as their origins and unorthodox perspective on the Death Metal genre, Shaarimoth does epitomise underratedness. And, in all honesty, ‘Devildom’ will do little to change that. But let me be clear about that, that is exactly a blessing. Shaarimoth have never tended to stray from their chosen paths and remain contrarian, opinionated and pungently unique.

In that contrariness, then, lies the distinct link to the W.T.C. Productions roster. With the occasional exception here and there, the German label stands for metal with a clear and pronounced own vision on the genre; bands that never opt for the easy way out but with an always creative core and, in the process, steeped in the essence of darkness. This new album is a new and more than obvious example of that. ‘Devildom’ is filled to the brim with interesting twists and turns: (almost) a-rhythmical changes of pace, nervous riffs and an omnipresent dark, smothering atmosphere.

While Shaarimoth may not necessarily pull the originality card, the band does work its way through a set of songs that actually has few equals. Without question, the Shaarimoth DNA consists largely of Death Metal, but with the patently dark nature of the music, there is a certain Black Metal edge to the songs. The wall of violence here is not raised by thick layers of heavily tuned guitars either, on the contrary: the guitar work sounds piercing and viciously sharp. Perhaps, then, echoes of the Norwegian Black Metal landscape can be heard in this after all.

Deeper riff by riff or even song by song analysis has always been problematic, and even unnecessary, for Shaarimoth. The band’s overall appearance has always revolved around unorthodox song structures laid out like separate jigsaw pieces in a shadowy and almost occult framework. Words can hardly be guiding here. The overall puzzle can really only be put together personally, it may take some perseverance and practice, but for those who have mastered it, each Shaarimoth album is a work of artistry. In this, ‘Devildom’ is no exception, more so, this album is the strongest the band has delivered to date.

World Terror Committee

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