This is the second album by this French death metal outfit whose debut was a typically old school death metal affair but done with French flair by adding occult like adornments to the songs as this sophomore continues that avenue with an album steeped in atmosphere generated by the production which I like tremendously.

Opening with “Dysmorphic Human” an isolated riff filters in with dramatic backing effects and a ghoulish vocal announcement that signals the escalation in velocity. Not quite blasted the song has a desolate aura due to the stripped sound of the guitar work which sounds like black metal in places but this is undoubted death metal as the track transcends into a galloping double bass pulverising. The organic nature of the sound gives the album a live feel, each drum hit has an enlivened feel, couple that to the grating guitar work and scintillating leads that whilst brief offer considerable depth to every song as the title track begins with atmospheric backing effects. Those effects will have you thinking about old horror films in a good way, those films from the 1970s and 80s that had simplistic soundtracks to create an exceedingly creepy ethos which the band does perfectly as the song delves headlong into grisly deathliness. Those effects linger like damp fog in a coastal resort at night and assist in splicing the guitar nuances together to greater effect.

My reference to occult like tendencies on the debut rear up with fire crackles that initiate on ‘Le Supplice Du Feu” as the song adopts a doom death like posture temporarily before upping the speed in stages towards half blasted nihilism. Ghoulish vocal displays dominate too, but also intermingle with deeper cavernous drawls as more sumptuous lead work materialises. Skulking in slowly is “Reborn In The Vault” embellished with effects the song reeks of horror movie before dissolving for the raging riff but like the other songs backing effects are embedded but done not to divert from the power of the song which has an intrinsic creepiness to it that crawls up your spine.

The bridging interlude “L’Ombre De La Tombe” could easily have come out of a Carpenter movie as it leads into the closing tune “Fate Of The Immortal” which surprisingly starts with an upbeat riff though the protracted guitar hook that sits on top is suitably eerie. That eeriness continues and is amplified as bell like additions are sprinkled in to great effect. The songs lumbering double kick work makes it slothful in parts but deliberately so, as the lead break unfurls for some fret tapping spookiness and closes this excellent album.

(8.5/10 Martin Harris)

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