Neither Tennessee or Alabama is the first places that comes to mind when you think of where the darkest black metal coming from America this yet might be spewed from, but that is what has happened. It's American black metal that doesn't sound like it's from America, so all the post- rock hipster trappings are no where to be found. These guys do capture a creepy sonic element to what they do. Not unlike what some of the Depressive Suicidal Black metal bands used to do, while Xasthur and Leviathan can be at times reference points, they reside on a layer of the abyss closer to Blut Aus Nord and Deathspell Omega, who they do cover here.
The first revelation is more of a intro than a song, it sets the mood well. "Revelation II : Serpents of the Choronzon" is a work of art. These guys don't lean on blast beats in the traditional sense. The drumming is powerful and dynamic, yet tasteful and acting as a conductor for the winding movements. The have a wonderful dissonance to them. The chords ring out with that beautifully evil ambiance I adore. There are some cool chants spaced out in odd bridges here and there as well.
"Shaare Maveth" is basically an interlude that serves more as an intro for the third revelation entitled "Devotion's Final War". The is weaves around a more tightly coiled riff that flirts with a similar undulating chaos at it's core. Little more of a blasty mcnasty feel here. The vocals stay in a choked rasp with torturous undertones, sometimes leaning more towards the croak. Around the four minute mark the song delves into a cool melodic section with keyboards layering it. The following revelation is a little more straight forward and in your face. At times this draws them a little closer to saw old Watain territory, just with out some of those thrashier grooves. It has to grow on me more than the first two songs.
The "Codex Luciferivm" is a synth based instermental that also feels like an interlude leading into the cover of Deathspell Omega's "Malign Paradigm" , off the French band's "Si monvmentvm reqvires,circircvmspice" album. This song was written by Deathspell Omega as a tribute to the Swedish black metal band Malign and their song "Ashes and Bloodstench". Stylistically is deviates as what you recognize as Wormreich's sound taking a more traditional metal approach for the first two and a half minutes of the song before it turns into a swathe of sound effects.
I will round this one up to a 9. These guys show lots of potential, the only problem with this being an ep is just that it's a very abbreviated version of what these guys do and I want to hear more of what they excel at some of the interludes eat up time that I feel might have given me a deeper glimpse into that place, so it leaves me eagerly awaiting the next full length where this will be displayed, hopefully sooner than later. If you are looking for some dark grim black metal draped in atmosphere but no less mean for it then this is worth your time.
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