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Domination through Impurity – Masochist (2010)

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When it comes to Technical Death Metal, 2010 has been a great year; we got amazing releases from Pestifer and Decrepit Birth among others. “Masochist” is another album that will join these ranks since it will propel Domination through Impurity to the spotlight in this very crowded genre.

Fronted by Joe Payne from Nile and Divine Heresy fame, we get a brilliant sophomore album that features traditional Death Metal roots with massive drumming and brilliant guitar acrobatics, showing that is more than the brutal bass player from the previously mentioned band, but a solid guitar player that can shred the shit out of an axe.

  • Posted By: Dark Emperor
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ABIGAIL WILLIAMS Album In Stores Tomorrow; Tour With Vader & Immolation To Begin

In the Absence of Light, the second full-length album from ABIGAIL WILLIAMS is set to hit stores tomorrow, September 28. The initial American pressing is in a digipak format limited to 5000 copies. The band kicked off a series of headline dates end of last week as they work their way across the country to meet up with Immolation and Vader with whom they will be touring beginning September 29.

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WOLFSHADE: New Track Stream Available Now Via Decibel Magazine

Esoteric and mysterious, WOLFSHADE explore hitherto uncharted terrain on third full-length When Above..., out now via Wraith Productions. An introspective voyage into bleak solitude and haunted resignation, When Above... offers seven mournful, organic lamentations that escort the listener to an altered state of mind, ushered there by hypnotic, trance-like odes to birth, regeneration, uncreation and (ultimately) demise.
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Dimmu Borgir – Abrahadabra (2010)

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Just when many people thought that Dimmu Borgir will never be as good as in their “Enthrone Darkness Triumphant “ and “Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia”, we get “Abrahadabra”, another masterpiece from this Norwegian band. While the band’s musical quality had considerably decreased with “In Sorte Diaboli” and “Death Cult Armageddon”, they come back in full swing with an impressive symphonic masterpiece that puts almost everything that Mustis “wrote for the band” to shame.

While many people will be crying and bitching about the Cradle of Filth comparisons, or that this album is too symphonic, blah, blah, blah, WE have to say that this is highly impressive stuff. The orchestration behind this release is, for lack of a better expression, ridiculously impressive. Everything sounds just right and helps build up a brilliant atmosphere that feels like a John Williams soundtrack on top of the traditional Dimmu Borgir sound. We have to recognize that Mustis did a good job before (especially in “Puritanical…”) but this is just ten steps ahead. With Gaute Storaas doing the orchestration of this album, he greatly helps in creating a truly diabolically haunting atmosphere (better than on “Death Cult Armageddon”).

  • Posted By: Dark Emperor
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Iron Fire – Metalmorphosized (2010)

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Ever wonder how can you royally screw up the flow of an album?, just listen to Metalmorphosized and you will have the perfect example of how not too structure your release. Featuring 3 new songs (tracks 1, 3, 8 and 10) and 9 more from the band’s demos between 2001 and 2006, “Metalmorphosized” showcases Iron Fire’s metamorphosis in terms of sound between the years.

Immediately you can notice that “Metalmorphosized” is a ‘stitched together’ release because the way the sound of the band changes between songs. The only common denominator of this release is the band’s signature Power Metal sound and Martin Steene’s characteristic vocals. The new songs are definetly better written (and sounding) than most of the band’s older stuff presented here, but the vocal ‘experiments’ get to be very annoying sometimes.

  • Posted By: Dark Emperor
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Kamelot – Poetry for the Poisoned (2010)

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Three years after releasing “Ghost Opera”, Kamelot is finally back with a very different and ambitious album then ever before. The band steps aside of their traditional Power Metal roots and takes an exploratory journey with progressive elements. This creates a very dark and yet refined release that will most likely please most fans of the band, but will leave some in the dark.

Our first impression of this album was not completely favorable since we expected something to sound more like older Kamelot releases. But upon exploring our 3rd, 4th, and 5th time we started to appreciate the album from its differences to older releases rather than the similarities. You will find the traditional vocal melodies of Roy, the impressive guitar work of Thomas, and all the other individual elements that make Kamelot a great band, but in different doses and with extra elements that elevate the band’s sound.

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