This album is described as a “concoction of melodic death metal and crust punk”, with the band’s style being likened to Black Sabbath, Entombed, Neurosis and High on Fire. This is the debut album from the no-frills, “three piece riff machine” from Sweden.
The first thing I observed as I listened to this album was the undercurrent of bass. Above the instrumental growls is a hard-hitting and indeed crusty song “Reptilian”. This style is the order of the day. “Full Circle” is harsher and more pointed. The comparison with Black Sabbath and Entombed rings true. “Break the circle” spits the vocalist as the song draws up images of systematic destruction. “Controlled Chaos” is dirtier and more downtrodden, while at the same time pumping out bilge. The dark instrumental undercurrent is always there. There’s a little guitar twist towards the end but Harmagedon are on the march here. “Sadness Comes” is an ode to agony and loss, marked as usual by the crusty riff, the meandering guitar pattern and the pained vocals. “Get out of my way”, croaks the vocalist. “Day of Reckoning” matches the mood. It is dark and dingy, but laced with a 70s style guitar solo. By contrast, “Expedition” is toe-tappingly rampant. It’s still harsh but its forward-driving nature and solid riff makes it the most melodic song of everything here. To set the matter straight, all of this album is accessible in spite of its unrelenting crustiness.
Harmagedon clearly prefer a good riff and melody to death metal obscurity. The start of the title song has an element of Cult of Luna about it, perhaps not surprising as Magnus Lindberg of that band did the mastering. What follows is the more familiar dark metal depth charge, but punctuated by a haunting chorus and an anarchic instrumental explosion which brings the song to life without detracting from the darkness of it all. Doomily it ends. “Straight Outta Hell” sounds like the tile of a classic metal track, and to a large degree it is this as the deep instrumental undercurrent sits beneath a melodic metal song. In a sense it’s like slowed down Motorhead. It’s certainly got a strong element of old school rock about it. “Black Lung” picks up the pace an represents the final piece of malevolence and decay on this hour. The drum cranks up the tempo before the guitar does the same. The main riff is merciless as ever but Harmagedon don’t leave it there, breaking out into explosive dirtiness to leave one final mark.
Harmagedon take no prisoners here with “Dystopian Dreams”. This album is solid as a rock, doesn’t seek to be modern and is largely without frills as the band proceed to grind us into the ground. It’s a good and enjoyable listen too as Harmagedon hook us in with their dark riffs and melodies.
(8/10 Andrew Doherty)
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