Description
Canada has an interesting extreme metal scene with bands such as Antediluvian and Adversarial releasing atmospheric yet utterly crushing material. Paroxsihzem was formed in 2007, and released a self titled demo in 2010. Many of the tracks from their demo has been re-recorded for this album, but this is certainly not a reason for those who have already listened to the demo to not bother check out the album, as the material on the full length present a rather different experience compared to the demo. Unlike the demo, the atmosphere that is present on the full length is much more crushing, much more suffocating, with a more low-end heavy sound that asphyxiates the listener under the intense pressure of the oppressive riffs. The opening Intro sets the ominous mood for the album, but once Vanya begins, all hell breaks loose. While those who have heard the demo would realize that the speed that the band goes at is slightly slower here, the band more than makes up with the intensity in the music, as guitarist Impugnor and drummer The Desolate One providing all the crushing goodness that is present. The similarities to their compatriots such as Antediluvian and other such atmospheric black/death metal bands such as Bestial Raids are easily heard, not only in the music but also in the songwriting and the deep, throaty vocals of Krag, bringing to mind such legends as Incantation to mind as well at times. Though Paroxsihzem is part of the massive wave of dissonant black/death metal bands that got hyped to no end by the likes of Dark Descent and Nuclear War Now and their followers, it wasn’t really until their 2016 EP, Abyss of Excruciating Vexes, that the band really seemed to find their footing and start to make an impact on the scene. Despite that, the band’s early material remains a testament to the chaotic nature of the early days of this movement. Paroxsihzem’s debut, eponymous-titled debut album is a fine example of the dissodeath scene and shows the potential the band has.
Track list:
1. Intro
2. Vanya
3. Nausea
4. Deindividuation
5. Godot
6. Tsirhcitna Eht
7. Aokigahara