After a 6 year gap between the two track demo “Ite Missa Est” and their first full length, no-one could accuse Deathcode Society of rushing things. So was it worth the wait?
When I first pressed play I thought that this was going to be a standard black metal release, competent but nothing outstanding. Turns out I was wrong! As the album builds it reveals well structured, multi layered, multi-faceted black metal of the highest order. The intensity of the black metal blasts are balanced with melodic passages, choral and clean vocal interludes and much more. Numerous guest vocalists such as Benjamin Nominet (ex-Sybreed), RMS Hreidmarr (Glaciation,CNK, ex-Anorexia Nervosa), Saint Vincent (Blacklodge, Vorkreist) and Sam Meador (Xanthochroid) add to the experience, which is capped off by a cover of Judas Priest’s “Metal Meltdown” and Emperor’s “With Strength I Burn”.
Things kick off with “Pandaemonium 1.1” and its black metal blasts combined with layered dynamics hinting towards what is to follow. The song builds towards a finale bringing Fleshgod Apocalypse to mind. As “Noos” progresses, a symphonic edge begins to take hold with each listen peeling back layers, revealing nuances and intricacies not evident to a casual first listen. Mid way through the track, the battering gives way to choral chants, until the intensity rebuilds with the chants continuing in the background until the song comes to an end with its pulverizing climax.
“The Mask of Cain” continues the theme with melodic black metal, cleverly being broken up with a melodic mid section, before “Nails” arrives to give the listener an aural beasting, raising the intensity to the point of chaos, but just about keeping it together. As the track progresses the pace slows, but the intensity remains. “The Inner Vortex” keeps things going with its tortured screams and time changes before “Pilgrimage” picks up the baton with more battering until this gives way for a melodic break and clean vocals. “Seraphic Requiem” continues along the same theme bringing Dimmu Borgir to mind.
The album closes with two covers. The first is Judas Priest’s “Metal Meltdown” from 1990’s “Painkiller” album – I was a little nervous to listen to this track wondering whether it would be butchered, but it actually works quite well. Emperor’s “With Strength I burn” from their masterpiece “Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk” closes the opus. This stays true to the original and is a fitting nod to their roots.
This album is a epic black metal masterpiece, and if there is any justice, this will catapult Deathcode Society to the big leagues of black metal.
(9/10 Andy Pountney)
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