Desolate is an appropriate adjective for beautiful landscapes of this bands Icelandic homeland but not for the technical dexterity within the obliterating ten tracks on this sophomore. All the bands members are part of other acts and that wealth of experience has certainly enabled this album to take on a new leash of life since the band debut was released some nine years ago. Said debut had all the embryonic credentials of what was to come here, the technical wizardry, the arrangements but nothing can prepare you for ‘Desolate’ it is a drenching of dazzling proficiency in every quarter from the moment it starts.
The songs are kept short, succinct and compact, but are absolutely saturated from start to finish with as much guitar trickery as you can imagine, but interlaced with drum work and bass work that knit everything together into a complex tapestry that you can understand and most importantly thoroughly enjoy. ‘Diamonds’ is the opener and a crisp crystalline sound sets the scene perfectly, as the high velocity riffing is interconnected with the hyper drum work which beggars belief at times. There are obvious references to acts like Obscura but where things differ is the melodicism, that intrinsic nature to make the songs latch into head, that ability to make the riffs that bit catchier as on ‘Spiral To Oblivion’, the opening very cool start linking to the great blast work as the guitar work is like a swirling maelstrom tornado.
There is no let up on this album, no pauses, no respite to catch your breath and why would you want one, much like Archspire’s ‘Relentless Mutation’ release this album does the same, an inexorable hurricane of riffs that flay the skin with songs like ‘Unfurling The Crescent Moon’. It is a relentless barrage as the continual guitar exhibits no creative bounds as at times I just sat back in total awe wondering what the hell is coming next. There were times I was thinking about Allegaeon when they did rein things in even if it was very brief as I particularly enjoyed ‘Enslaved In A Desolate Swarm’. The song even has a borderline slam riff when it starts, I did say borderline, before the detonation in speed as the song returns to warp factor speed and is followed by ‘Dominion Eyes’. Initially this track is more straight death metal, luring you with its groove infestation before the explosive supernova of speed.
There really isn’t anything else I can say about this album, it is an album for technical death metal fans, those that love hyper speed guitar work, insane drumming speed and vocals delivered maniacally but controlled but above all this has excellent memorable songs making this one of the best technical death metal albums of 2021 and an essential purchase.
(9/10 Martin Harris)
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