It’s a bit of a running thing with myself that I am ‘that Death Metal guy’ Goregeous George, Slam King these are titles I’ve been accredited with by various people over the years, but there is far more to my tastes than that. It doesn’t always have to be that ‘shouty’ stuff, for example recently I’ve been digging the new Hammerfall record along with a load of old school Prog and NWOBHM in the vein of Marillion and Praying Mantis. Indeed also I’m that guy that will tell you everything about Iron Maiden (the best band in the world) within five minutes of meeting you, so despite my love of the depraved I have a softer side too.

Delving into my more palatable tastes we come today to speak of Doom Metal, Epic Doom Metal for that matter. We of course are here to listen to the Crypt Sermon, the Philadelphia newcomers formed in 2013 and unveiled a critically acclimated debut full length in 2015 entitled Out Of The Garden. If my memory serves me it also found itself amid many a ‘top albums of 2015’ list. Thus the sophomore record looms, 2019’s The Ruins Of Fading Light put out through Dark Descent Records, but with such anticipation behind them has the pressure got the better of them?

Epic is certainly the right word as the hallowed chants ring about the opening of The Ninth Templar (Black Candle Flame) before we go into some hard-hitting riffs and a cheeky nod of guitar wizardry. The vocals of Brooks Wilson come across as passionate and full of pure Metal force, not to mention their fulfilling legibility this is of course lends a hand to the hook laden lyrical content that is both medieval and totally fantastical. The bombast is upheld through into the theatrical Key Of Solomon which is not only one of the albums catchiest tracks but also in my mind the best, a complete unity of instrumentation and vocal preaching. There is a sad dip however during Our Reverend’s Grave whereby I personally feel the song becomes a bit style over substance.

Luckily the instrumental Epochal Vestiges and proceeding track Christ Is Dead see a bit of a return to form namely through the recurring chants and crushing Doom riffs. This all said the album at this point appears to be sloping off in quality. Longest song The Snake Handler is again a pretty massive track in terms of musicianship but lacks the same memorability as prior tracks, the emphasis on musical prowess outweighs the memorability to such an extent that it becomes nothing more than an enjoyable Doom record. Beneath The Torchfire Glare and the climactic titular track are a bit more powerful but still they fall short with the same level of tried and tested Doom that whilst strong is uneventful.

This might be one of the strangest records I’ve ever reviewed in the sense that the musicianship is to a ludicrously high standard and as aforementioned becomes style over substance at points. Yet at the same time it all feels like its been done before and the lack of backing from the memorability factor just sees the release become little more than fun background Doom. With this thought in mind I often review using the following method, stick the album on a few times in the background before giving it a deeply engaging listen. Now with The Ruins Of Fading Light when it was on in the background I was pretty captivated but once I began to scrutinise it I became disillusioned and pretty bored. If you’re really into Doom I can see this ticking a lot of boxes but for me and all my ramblings at the start of this review perhaps I should return to my crusty throne of Death Metal skulls (whilst sporting a Maiden shirt of course).

(6/10 George Caley)

https://www.facebook.com/CryptSermon

https://darkdescentrecords.bandcamp.com/album/the-ruins-of-fading-light