Ah, Poland. I put this album on to play without first checking its credentials. Rampant, sweeping devastation is the order of the day and there’s only one country this ever could come from. Vader, Behemoth, Hate, Trauma and their many peers have a lot to answer for. Dormant Ordeal is another band from the esteemed factory of Polish death metal.
Little time is spent on the intro. It would be a waste as the death metal juggernaut must begin. Heavy battery, explosions of razor-sharp guitar and roaring vocals signal chaos, rebellion and devastation. The guitars twist us round and inject fire. “Cypress Mourning” slows down a little and becomes more infernal. Those twisting guitars are ominous. Black clouds envelop the scene. It never rains, it pours, you know. Sparks fly from all corners. There’s no room for weakness here. The machine is in overdrive and represents brutal punishment and authority. Such is the sweeping darkness and total relentlessness that I wasn’t keeping up with the tracks, but I did sit up and take notice of “Mother Slave”. The build up takes us into territory where energy, fire and power are rolled into one momentous swirling death metal assault. The guitar solos, murderous drumming and head-snapping riffs make this exhilarating. It continues, then after a cursory break where the sound is reminiscent of ships coming into port through fog, “Days That Didn’t Make It” takes off. It’s like being shot at constantly, while being run over by an express train and torn limb from limb at the same time. It all happens at breakneck speed. “The Animal” is more subtle – ok, let’s re-phrase that and say it’s got more depth. The still darker and more sinister approach continues into “Man from the Water”. Thunderous drums precede clinical control as it slows down to a rare moment of death-doom. It is of course utterly heavy. These men are at work. The image is that of steel plants, furnaces and billowing smoke. In common with their Polish metal counterparts, there is a natural flow, and sophisticated riffs prevail amongst the hammering and blasting and death-fuelled vocals. “Here Be Lions” captures the mood once more. It is leaden-heavy, bludgeoning hard labour yet rhythmic in its way, and certainly appealing and atmospheric. “Depopulation of Earth” finishes the album. Although an “outro”, its whistling eerie sounds show a side which could have been developed more without comprising the utter devastation that this heavy piece of machinery has brought to us.
This is the first full album of Dormant Ordeal, who have been around since 2005. It may not be original in its style but as ever Polish death metal proves as reliable as a Swiss clock. “It Rains, It Pours” is invigorating and drawn from the best source stock. At about 40 minutes, it’s all over too quickly like a whirlwind passing through.
(7.5/10 Andrew Doherty)
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