Description

2017 edition on black vinyl with insert and poster

Immolation creates a paradox with their music. On the one hand, the music is superficially your typical brutal, oldschoolish, New York death metal, with typical anti-Christian lyrics. But wait. The attentive listener will find that upon examining this work further, layers of depth reveal themselves like scales falling from the sinner’s eyes. Under the brutality and technicality lurks hellish melody and emotion. The ignorant who say that the lyrics are cliche and simply composed for shock value aren’t paying attention. Unlike the mindless anti-Christian aggression of bands like Deicide, Immolation’s lyrics are highly personal, metaphorical, and emotional. Rather than expressing their hatred for all things holy by talking about burning down the Vatican or some such nonsense, these compositions explore psyches damaged by spiritual poisoning. The music manages to reflect these ideas well. The thunderous drumming, the shredding guitars, the grinding bass, and the grunt-barks, all convey the anger and outrage at being deceived. And yet, without female or clean vocals, classical instruments, acoustic passages, or any letup in the brutality whatsoever, melody manages to thrive through odd time signatures and tempo changes, and strange instrument juxtaposition that creates dissonance and harmony at the same time. It’s hard to explain exactly what the music does, and I don’t think words can adequately explain it, anyway. Again, it simply amazes me how they can seem both furious and intimidating as well as vulnerable and anguished at the same time.

Track listing:
1. Higher Coward
2. Father Youre Not A Father
3. Furthest From The Truth
4. Fall From A High Place
5. Unpardonable Son
6. Lost Passion
7. Put My Hand In The Fire
8. Close To A World Below