Insanity Reigns Supreme - Unorthodox

Unorthodox is the forth album from Belgium death metallers Insanity Reigns Supreme. It's a dark moody album that concentrates on heaviness, atmosphere and song craft. Mixing the traditional aspects of death metal, think early Morbid Angel with the murky dark feeling of early Paradise Lost. Dare I say there's a strong presence of Celtic Frost here also and the occasional use of haunting female vocals really gives a great finishing touch to the overall feeling of the album.

There's plenty of shredding and brutality on tracks such as opener 'Ov Fire' and the black metal flavoured 'Throne Of One' but it's when they switch to a mid paced doom territory that this band really shine. Take a track like 'Torment' or the excellent 'Opposer' you see where the band are at their best. I love their ability to weave in a beautifully haunting melody into the heaviest part of a song. The best example of this is the second half of 'Cursed Be The Faithful'.

All in all, this is a great album if your a fan of Triptykon or the slower more experimental side of Behemoth ie you like death metal a bit more creative then this is well worth your time. It's a well thought out multi layered album that reveals more with every listen. My main gripe however is that it is padded out. Out of the 11 tracks here 3 are interludes/introductions and the last track is a repeat of the opening track but with female vocals edited into the chorus. The 7 remaining tracks luckily are of high quality that make it forgivable. That aside check out this gothic, doom laden death metal bastard to get you through the rest of winter!


  1. The Conjuring
  2. Ov Fire
  3. Throne Of OneĀ 
  4. Torment
  5. Moonlight Sacrifice
  6. By Blood Of The Beast
  7. Cursed Be The Faithful
  8. The Calling
  9. Opposer
  10. Santanas Rex Inferis
  11. Serpent Of Fire

Shiver Records
Reviewer: twansibon
Jan 27, 2015

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