1.) The Reflection In The Mirror Of Oblivion. 5:33
2.) The Bubonic Herald. 4:55
3.) Heretical Passage. 1:18
4.) The Mentor’s Skull. 5:39
I’m going to start my review a little different today. See below:
Prolific
adjective (of a plant, animal, or person) producing much fruit or foliage or many offspring.
So can this adjective ever be used within this genre? Well this is what I’m here to seek and with this being the third release under Devouring famine’s belt we open up the 7th circle of hell and look transfixed as the fires grip us.
Track 1) The Reflection In The Mirror Of Oblivion opens with thick colossus riffs and heavy drumming quickening in pace as we move into the first verse. The vocals are that of perfection, they almost take me to Carpathian Forests Nattefrost style vocals. That bitter and venomous style but still able to drop to lower octaves is what makes the entities vocal range something of his own. The track shifts in pace and mid first verse into the second we are treated to a mini solo, very rock n roll in style, so there seems that nice crossover of black n roll and I feel like this is where the comparison to that of Carpathian Forest lies. However it doesn’t end there, little elements of some dsbm riffs are creeping in too.
These little filler riffs are a welcome break from the hell battery of sound of the remaining track. These elevate the track to another level.
This let’s in that almost Leviathan “Silhouette in Splinters” / Shining “Halmstad” vibes. The incorporation of this makes for such a dynamic mix within just the first opening track.
Track 2) “The Bubonic Herald” continues where track one finished off. The opening riff matches that of the first so it almost feels like part two. This is a much slower track with a much more rhythmic pace.
The use of the guitars is beautifully transcending in verses leaving the chorus to be the proverbial driving nail as the pace switches to that of your more well known black metal riffs, piercing tremolo picking and a more concise attack on the ears. However the surprise breakdown mid way through after a brief pause were treated to a more death metal breakdown, this showing just all genres can be included. This coupled with the stunning little Leviathan sequence lulls one into a false sense of security as the hell battery comes back in to close this extremely experimental yet well acustrated track. Track 3) Heretical Passage is a great little fill, incorporating that beautiful melancholy synth passage that leaves you feeling sombre and like your wondering the halls of lonely crypt. This little Dungeon synth ditty is just proof all is possible.
Track 4) The Masters Skull tears through you with razor sharp riffs and blast beats from the offset. If you weren’t ready for this then believe you me this is like a line drive to the chest. The thunderous beats and the bass lines are enough to deliver the most punishing blows as they hammer home this crushing track. The entity’s vocals are the most venomous I’ve heard throughout this release which just adds to the absolute ferocity of the track. Whilst the crushing blows are being delivered throughout the verses, the inclusion of some old school N.W.O.B.H.M. riffs are a great welcome break. Taking you back to those early Iron Maiden days these riffs are a great tribute and a great hark back to a well appreciated act. As the riffs subside the track begins to build again and the ferocity in everything is back ten fold. The track closes on a brutal assault of the senses. This is another well structured well thought out demo once again, proving that the entity or D.F can truly up his game with every release possible is just a sheer game changer.
I know a lot of critics have already judged this band before truly digging deep into what there is to offer. Spread across three demos we probably have the most 360° notion of sound, all bases are covered within the genres mixed into these releases. There is something for everyone and to capture this mix it well is definitely raising the bar within this genre of music. So before you shut the door on this act consider what you will be giving up and go back and take a long hard look into the Mirror Of Oblivion.
Hails #Foras #LordOfTheShadows.
Mirror of Oblivion is available now via Bandcamp
Full album video courtesy of Transmissions From The Dark
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