This bands name gave me pause to do some checking into it, I’ve no idea why, but on investigation it appears the name is of Arabic origin and there are potentially a number of interpretations but what seems to be common is that it could mean prison, vehement, intense to name a few. I gave the bands demo ‘Angel Of The Eastern gate’ a listen too and quickly realised the potency of this German/Basque country trio whose logo I really like as well. Added to that the songs were recorded in one take, no editing, cutting or other studio trickery making this album feel live and unquestionably intense throughout.
Their old school deathliness is nothing new I admit, but the conviction and power is not something you hear often, as that live approach hits hard and with gusto on opener ‘Daemon Blessex’. Guttural vocal bellows link into what I would deem a deathrash riffing structure that makes more than the occasional appearance here. The vocals are excellent, having that Glen Benton cavernous sound complete with a slight delay for added atmosphere as the opener brandishes a venomous lead break, something that suffuses through the album. Isolated guitar work adorns the start of ‘Dagger Of A Thousand Deaths’ blended to some cool drum fills as the quick pacing isn’t blasted but has that sense of urgency. There are huge early era Morbid Angel influences as the song veers in tempo and links into the excellent ‘Those Who Wait To enter’. Indeed, the song is very like ‘Fall From Grace’, slower and gritty with great atmosphere before the igniting blast is added alongside the screeching, scraping lead work giving the song a pernicious caustic attitude.
A cool riff reels you in on the title track, again that urgency and potent resolve is tangible infecting the listener with its punishing power as the album has a re-recorded tune from the demo, namely the title track of it, ‘Angel Of The Eastern Gate’. The original was awash with riff changes and here the band has amplified the song to realms of horrifying terror, again riddled with lead work and copious riff breaks, each as addictive as the next. After a short interlude, ‘Hunting The Lizard’ equally as foreboding as the main tunes on the album ‘Unchain The Ghost’ smashes in after some brief noise. Like before the song wields its riffs like knives, slicing into the song as the lead break will definitely have you thinking about Trey from Morbid Angel.
Changing tack slightly is ‘White Mantras Bleed From Black Magic’, with its bass pulse at the start as this one had me thinking about debut album Sinister for the savagery. Closing the album is ‘Condemned By Primal Contact’, the Morbid Angel honouring just tells you this band was weaned on the stuff. Riff breaks and a very cool vocal display ensure high momentum peppered with brutal finesse certifying that the debut album by Sijjin has set them on the path for much more on future releases.
Rancid yet with precision, this album reeks of early 90s death metal and deathrash, their unwavering violence and pulverising conviction should be enough for you to give this album a once over or two.
(8/10 Martin Harris)
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