When I think of the contemporary Polish metal scene, I’m instantly reminded of a myriad of extreme and rather polished blackened death metal groups, so Azarath’s approach on their fifth album Blasphemers’ Maledictions did not took me by surprise. When I say polished, I do not mean the music here is soft and sweet, not at all, as Blasphemers’ Maledictions is one of the most violent and aggressive death metal records I’ve heard lately.
The constant violence - which basically means a lot of blast beats and tremolo-picked riffing in ultimate tempos - turns out to be the album’s downside as well. While the pummeling does convince and one can notice the rising throbbing of his heart as soon as ”Supreme Reign of Tiamat” kicks in with its suffocating war, 45 minutes of it is a tad too long time, and towards the end the listener is more likely just exhausted and no longer impressed. The band does include some melodic, almost epic solos in their music, like on ”Firebreath of Blasphemy and Scorn” and ”Under the Will of the Lord” which is very welcome. More than just a couple of spins are recommended to be given to this album before any final judgements, as the chaotic compositions seem to become more catchy on every go.
What comes to the album’s musicianship, well, everything is top-notch as can be expected. Precise, strong drumming, tight and sharp guitar lines and good vocal delivery that ranges between higher pitches and lower growls. You may know what I usually think of this carefully executed music, but in this case the band is enough heavy and crushing so that the unsurprising nature of the music does not matter. I’d consider Blasphemers’ Maledictions among the better blackened death metal records of recent times, and it is definitely recommended to the proper fans of the style - I’m certain this will appeal to those.
The constant violence - which basically means a lot of blast beats and tremolo-picked riffing in ultimate tempos - turns out to be the album’s downside as well. While the pummeling does convince and one can notice the rising throbbing of his heart as soon as ”Supreme Reign of Tiamat” kicks in with its suffocating war, 45 minutes of it is a tad too long time, and towards the end the listener is more likely just exhausted and no longer impressed. The band does include some melodic, almost epic solos in their music, like on ”Firebreath of Blasphemy and Scorn” and ”Under the Will of the Lord” which is very welcome. More than just a couple of spins are recommended to be given to this album before any final judgements, as the chaotic compositions seem to become more catchy on every go.
What comes to the album’s musicianship, well, everything is top-notch as can be expected. Precise, strong drumming, tight and sharp guitar lines and good vocal delivery that ranges between higher pitches and lower growls. You may know what I usually think of this carefully executed music, but in this case the band is enough heavy and crushing so that the unsurprising nature of the music does not matter. I’d consider Blasphemers’ Maledictions among the better blackened death metal records of recent times, and it is definitely recommended to the proper fans of the style - I’m certain this will appeal to those.
3 / 5
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