Ever since I got this bands third album “The Return To Darkness” for review in another publication I have been hooked to their music completely and added to that their triumphant and staggering live performance at Bloodstock Open Air in 2012 the jigsaw was complete for me, with only a new album needed to satiate my craving for this bands epic blackened death metal tunes. If you don’t know Demonic Resurrection hail from Mumbai, India and have seen their popularity grow and deservedly so, as this fourth album is truly spectacular in all aspects of their capable song writing skills.
The opening tune begins like a sonic explosion on “The Assassination” as a vocal tirade detonates the start of the song, saturated with keyboards but maintaining distance in the mix so that the insane blast drumming and guitars are completely emphasised. The use of clean vocals in the band’s music has enthralled me since I first heard them and instead of being added for the sake of it, without them the music would be missing a key component. Grandiose and epic the music rivals Behemoth, I kid you not, for the sheer intensity and complexity that unfolds within the bands compositions. However the blistering black assaults are tempered with some exquisite jaw-dropping lead guitar work, a feature that makes this album so absorbing to listen to. Into the double bass armada of “Facing The Faceless” the screamed vocals send shivers into your spine when they relent for the clean vocal insertion. Comparisons with Dimmu Borgir will be rife I expect but for me this act brushes that symphonic band away purely by the organic sincerity that “The Demon King” offers the listener. There is a savage beauty about this album that is decorated with massively catchy and charismatic melodies.
The gargantuan “The Promise Of Never” begins with a short keyboard piece before adopting a symphonic approach with a great solo. As the tune progresses I am reminded of a time when black metal bands were increasing their use of keyboards to add texture and adding the clean vocals one could say that it has an Arcturus feel but without the pretence of grandeur that band adopted for themselves. It’s infectious and whilst the purist black metaller will vilify this style of the genre the song writing and sonic craftsmanship is undeniable throughout as the band has a cinematic feel on much of this opus. Producing an album that is going to stand the test of time but more importantly the test of longevity on metallers ears is extremely difficult in today’s throwaway musical culture but “The Demon King” will remain on anyone’s playlist that chooses to hear it for many years to come as it is that strong an album.
“Shattered Equilibrium” has a thrash riff to start it before a deluge of keyboards is scattered over the riffing creating a theatrical atmosphere underpinned by the melodies but also capturing emotive power with some rather mournful lead work. Penultimate tune “Even Gods Do Fall” is followed by a soothing outro piece called “The End Paradox” as the former continues its controlled pandemonium with some pulverising double bass and for this tune I detected Emperor. Although my referencing of other acts may lead you to think that the band is emulating past glories then think again, Demonic Resurrection are unique and their ability to write such infectious and addictive songs is proof of that.
This is a completely engaging album, the cohesion of the song writing is unmatched and the fluidity from tune to tune is breathtaking. It is tempting to give this release the exalted ten but I reckon the band has a lot more to come so I’ll reserve it for later but suffice to say if you don’t buy this album you will miss out on one of the releases of this century so far, it is that good.
(9.5/10 Martin Harris)
http://www.demonicresurrection.in
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