A US / Finnish collaboration; Skrying Mirror have dropped their debut album through Italian label I, Voidhanger Records, a label who are known for unleashing upon the world bands and albums of a more thought provoking and different nature. That certainly holds true to ‘Omnimalevolence’, an Industrial influenced Death/Black Metal opus made up of musicians from Ævangelist, Benighted in Sodom and vocalist from Conduit of Chaos, Dionysian Rites among many others.

Industrial Death Metal doesn’t on paper sound like my kind of thing, but in truth the industrial influence only really tinges the overall sound, lending the album a slightly mechanical hostility which when combined with the taught bass tones conveys an intense sense of impending horror and dread that I find most impressive.

Chaotic is the word that most springs to mind when I listen to Skrying Mirror; a controlled articulate chaos that manifests itself through savage, almost tinny percussion, darkened groove drenched guitar work, and oh my… those bass leads; oh so satisfying! There is a brooding darkness to the backdrop of this album too though that adds yet another layer of bleak, oppressive intensity. To top off all of that, sickening, bowel churning vocals rise from the gloom to complete this barbaric, hostile opus!

I didn’t think I’d enjoy this album quite as much as I did. It’s a unique combination of brooding Industrial death Metal and dark Atmospheric Black Metal and I highly recommend you give it your undivided attention!

(8/10 Marksson)

https://i-voidhangerrecords.bandcamp.com/album/omnimalevolence