Souldrainer - Architect
Formed in the late 20th century Sweden's Souldrainer has released a couple of albums previously of atmospheric death metal paved by the likes of Hypocrisy and Samael and here the three piece seems to have upped the ante with this third release by enhancing the ambition and song writing to create a multilayered opus that is extremely captivating. Not for everyone, the addition of female choral vocal lines, string like arrangements and a grandiose approach the album listens like an overture that kicks off simplistically at first with 'Biological Experiments' and a simple groove infested beat that is prime Hypocrisy and no doubt.
Initially I felt a little betrayed thinking this was just going to falter along a course carved by Hypocrisy many years ago but as the album progresses you are drawn into their exquisite musicianship and sonic craftsmanship, especially when you hit the title track with its acoustic style intro before a sweeping bass tsunami and double kick is saturated with choral wails that send it soaring to dizzying heights of flamboyance. This is epic music that continues into 'The Release' and here my mind saunters to the likes of Rotting Christ for the dominant drum work and straight beat but overall Hypocrisy is where it's at. Song after song this album draws you, hypnotic and intoxicating with its symphonic arrangements and expressive song writing as on 'Die Or Surrender' which is potent, heady in its groove and power. Into 'Turn Your Back' and a slower more oppressively dense beat appears and here some clean vocals manifest themselves to great effect, eerie and tormented but delivered with compelling emotion. The massive 'I Am The One' is a tune I'll never forget, it's supremely heavy but saturated with melody and a riff to die for when accompanied by the juggernaut double kick that pummels remorselessly.
This a gargantuan album, it carves great swathes of creativity over your whole psyche, it has the ability to rain down sonic thunder of unparalleled brutalising finesse.
Initially I felt a little betrayed thinking this was just going to falter along a course carved by Hypocrisy many years ago but as the album progresses you are drawn into their exquisite musicianship and sonic craftsmanship, especially when you hit the title track with its acoustic style intro before a sweeping bass tsunami and double kick is saturated with choral wails that send it soaring to dizzying heights of flamboyance. This is epic music that continues into 'The Release' and here my mind saunters to the likes of Rotting Christ for the dominant drum work and straight beat but overall Hypocrisy is where it's at. Song after song this album draws you, hypnotic and intoxicating with its symphonic arrangements and expressive song writing as on 'Die Or Surrender' which is potent, heady in its groove and power. Into 'Turn Your Back' and a slower more oppressively dense beat appears and here some clean vocals manifest themselves to great effect, eerie and tormented but delivered with compelling emotion. The massive 'I Am The One' is a tune I'll never forget, it's supremely heavy but saturated with melody and a riff to die for when accompanied by the juggernaut double kick that pummels remorselessly.
This a gargantuan album, it carves great swathes of creativity over your whole psyche, it has the ability to rain down sonic thunder of unparalleled brutalising finesse.
- Biological Experiments
- Behind The Face
- Architect
- The Release
- Die Or Surrender
- Turn Your Back
- For No Other
- Nightmare Abduction
- I Am The One
- Sorgestjärna
Label: http://www.vicisolum.com
Reviewer: twansibon
May 27, 2014
May 27, 2014
Next review:
Korpse - Korpse
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