The Pitch: Swiss industrial and symphonic black metal legends Samael, with 30 years experience under their belts, deliver new anthems of destruction via Napalm Records. FFO: Anaal Nathrakh, Dimmu Borgir, Septicflesh
What I Like: I don't hear too much noteworthy industrial metal these days, even less industrial black metal; so it's always nice to get a solid release in this genre. Samael are, of course, veterans in a number of genres, so it comes as llittle surprise that Hegemony is another strong outing. Even after so many years, they are still making songs that are ripe for a stadium full of pumping fists. Samael's sound combines a number of my favorite projects: the loose black metal and symphonic orchestrations of Dimmu Borgir, the gothic undertones of Septicflesh, and the synth-infused, epic industrial metal of Rammstein. Each composition on Hegemony has its own individual flavor depending on the current ratio of these elements, but they all come together to serve up an enjoyable experience filled with massive-sounding guitars and drums, dramatic backdrops of classical orchestrations, and grim, distorted vocals. Also, I never thought I needed an industrialized cover of The Beatles' "Helter Skelter," but somehow it works.
Critiques: While I really do enjoy this album, it's a little vanilla compared to many of the other's I've heard this year. It gets a leg up for being strong within a fading genre, but stacked against the top releases of the year it doesn't stand a chance.
The Verdict: Hegemony isn't getting any awards from me in terms of musicianship or innovation, but through the lens of band longevity and simply crafting an album that's easy to listen to over and over again, Samael have hit the nail on the head. Pick it up today.
Flight's Fav's: Angel of Wrath, Black Supremacy, Land of the Living
-Review by FlightOfIcarus
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