I’m guessing Sidious have changed a bit since their debut album ‘Revealed In Profane Splendour’ back in 2014. It is described as blackened death metal but here they have gone the full route and moved away from the deathly aspects as the title of their third album suggests. The UK act comprise of three ex-members of Eye Of Solitude and recently have added Hecate Enthroned drummer Valdr to their ranks.
The seven tracks here have both pace and mood, they are at times fairly lengthy sermons allowing them to move from massive obliterating and savage parts into something more sinister and indeed at times fairly gloomy as far as melody is concerned. The Russ Russell production is full bodied and projects a punishing sound taking things far beyond raw and bouncing along quite meatily as far as the title track opening proceedings is concerned. There’s a certain groove about the guitars and bass is thick and well defined. One thing there is no escaping from are the vocals of Iceth, they dog the musicians every step of the way with their penetrating snarls and high slung rasps. Drum rolls and bruising bombast from the sticks-man may well be just what the band needed to bring this intense ‘Blood-Soaked Mist’ to full potential and he powerfully batters away providing a solid backbone to things. When the quartet do settle back a little as on the atmospheric opening on ‘Hailing Shards of Agony’ they manage to purvey a real sense of solemness and despair but its not one without a sudden gambol and gallop to liven things up giving the song fluidity of pace.
There’s a fair bit of depth to these songs and they have taken a fair few listens to begin to glue into the subconsciousness. That’s no complaint as to coin a cliché they do their job somewhat insidiously. There are barnstorming sections of speed as on ‘Thy Palace Yond the Threshold’ further lifted by clamouring backing vocals and you can easily imagine these moments going down well live and working up an audience before dropping them back into moments of doomy despair. For me it’s the dark and sinister parts that really allow you to wallow in murk and darkness. Closer and longest song ‘Jewel of the Hadean Crown’ being a fine example of just such obsidian treasure.
(7.5/10 Pete Woods)
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