The opening track is a modern take on extreme metal that mixes many elements from many genres , so black metal plays a strong role in this. The vocals are more of a death metal grunt. One thing that is a welcome element is the song writing is catchy and head bangable. So often they hit you so hard with the aggressive that nothing hooks you in. The production is very dense and the second song makes this feel even rawer with it's crusty punk feel. If this was produced differently the guitar riff that runs through "In Wolflight" would carry even more of a black metal feel. But there is a blown out rumble of plaster shaking distortion coating things.
By the time I get to "Specters of Unlight" the album has begun to grind into a more uniform sound with some chugs that stand out more than others. "Creeping Barrage" is more doom paced death metal. Which is a mood I can get behind when they are not stepping on the gas as things begins to groove some. The vocals even take on more of a snarl in some places. The drums sound kinda shitty in the blasting parts though. This is where it takes a certain kind of playing to compliment their production choices. "Atomic Hecatomb" , this song is more meat and potatoes death metal, while "Blasphemous Rebirth" has an almost "Hell Awaits" era Slayer groove to it.
There is a more of Celtic Frost take on "Death Hex". The burly bass tone finally breaks through the fuzz of the guitars. The last song "Erased' is just slower death doom, without the romantic Paradise Lost notions. I will give this album an 8. It has some strong moments. Is it something I would listen to on a regular basis? No I have stuff like Incantation that fills that role, but for people who are into this sort of thing it is quality and they have a sense of who they are as a band amid there influences who might not be as obvious to younger listeners.Not black metal but blackened enough to appeal to balc kmetal fans looking for death metal. Out on Caligari Records.
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