The Pitch: French black metal legends Deathspell Omega raise the curtain on their hellish 7th album via Norma Evangelium Diaboli. FFO: Imperial Triumphant, Blut Aus Nord, Dodecahedron
What I Like: It's so lazy and arbitrary to use this old trope, but honestly what can be said of Deathspell Omega that hasn't been said already? If you're a longtime listener of the band, you know exactly what to expect from The Furnaces of Palingenesia. For those not in the know, the band has been honing their trademark sound of insidious, coiling guitars and pandemonious drumming for two decades now, spawning a vast sea of imitators in the process. It's impossible to discuss the French and avantgarde black metal scenes without putting their name at the forefront. More impressive still, Deathspell continue to put out top quality material to this very day. I would even venture to say that The Synarchy of Molten Bones is my favorite release of theirs to date, earning an easy spot in the best albums of 2016 overall. And while it's too early yet to tell if The Furnaces of Palingenesia is worthy of the same accolades, I can't deny the insane technicality or overall suffocating weight. From ragers like "Sacrificial Theopathy" to the more atmospheric "Renegade Ashes," these sonic Dementors siphon your very life force and radiate pure negative energy. Love those horns closing out the latter.
Critiques: Nothing especially new here. Closing track "You Cannot Even Find the Ruins…" takes a somewhat interesting turn with the vocals, but it's not enough to elevate the album beyond the usual tropes.
The Verdict: In a way, listening to a new Deathspell Omega album is the black metal equivalent of catching the latest from The Black Dahlia Murder: you more or less know what you're gonna get before you even press play. But don't let that to take away from the level skill and overall quality on display in the final product. As always, it's definitely worth your time.
Flight's Fav's: Ad Arma! Ad Arma!, Splinters from Your Mother's Spine, Sacrificial Theopathy
- Review by FlightOfIcarus
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