Ok, prepare to be blown away by this one. For a 6 song EP, this is one voracious juggernaut of a metal masterwork. This French melodic death ensemble manages to give one seriously vicious testimony of all things that are great about good heavy metal in one neat little package. Actually, to call these guys a melodic death metal band would be a little like referring to Dillinger Escape Plan as merely a rock band. This band pulls all the punches to insidiously lure the listener in with their array of merciless brutality paired with dangerously catchy hooks and hard rock grooves. The melodies and counter-melodies are all over the map while the rhythm section shifts relentlessly between time signatures to allow for some seriously blistering dynamics. The overall sound isn’t a completely original formula, as there are some very obvious Gothenburg scene influences. However, what sets these guys apart from some of their peers is their very over the top approach with the dynamic arrangements, classic harmonies, and in-your-face riffage that is malevolently infectious. In addition, they succeed in harnessing a very epic, grandiose delivery that just slightly hints at some progressive-power metal influence.
The EP opens with “Morituri Te Salutant”. A gloriously majestic renaissance-era sounding orchestral bombast that first has me thinking that I’m listening to a new Dead Can Dance record. This quickly gives way to the title track, which already hits the ground running with a grand showcase in cleverly anthemic modal guitar patterns. The harmonious multi-layered guitar attack soon falls nicely into an almost smooth rock groove, before the ghastly screams take over command across a fierce double-bass drum death gallop. Like much of the rest of the album, the rest of the song swings ruthlessly between primal, ferocious death blasts and mesmeric hard rock rhythms with much tuneful resonance. Its one of the shorter songs but it seems that all the best elements of this whole EP are all so neatly compressed, and put into this concise 3 minute catharsis. “Hoisting The Black Flag” features some very classic Maiden-esque melodic guitar lines that drive the main pulse of the song, and is graciously highlighted by an effective mid-song breakdown adorned with competing dual guitar harmonies that evoke the spirit of Judas Priest. “Seeds of Tyranny” is one of more outstanding moments on the record, with its deep rhythmic punch and soaring melodies that colour the sonic ether over top a mechanically decisive antipathy. “Voyage Au Bout De La Nut” serves as the closing track, and is a mid-tempo dirge that is a bit slower but no less deliberate and sinister as the rest of the album.
This is one of the most immediate and captivating metal recordings I’ve heard in quite a while. The only complaint I have is that it’s only 6 songs. There is not a dull moment offered here, as the band consistently exploits a riveting multitude of musical devices that keep the music interesting throughout. The rhythm section is unrelenting, savage, and methodically precise. The guitars are the forefront, and feature hooks that are severely infectious and harmonies that seem to complete some kind of aural mosaic in the band’s sonic multiverse. The vocals are incessantly brutal, and range between tortured shrieks and a guttural, thunderous roar. Everything that enjoy about good metal is all put to valuable avail in this humble collection of carefully constructed songs. Although before today I’ve not ever heard of this band, now I’m already looking forward to hearing more from them.
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