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Necrophobic - Death to All

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 June 10 2009 at 06:13:28 AM



Precious few bands among the next generation of Swedish metallers can hope to contend with Necrophobic’s auspicious sixth album. Among the old guard of the country’s once formidable underground, only Dismember has remained as close to their roots: Music shaped through speed, death and hate – a formula relatively unchanged throughout the years, resisting drastic change (whatever the results), and residing comfortably in margins streaked with sacrificial blood. If there remains a common thread among such veteran Scandinavian acts, it lies in their overwhelming tendency to drift closer towards a more classic style of Heavy Metal with age. Necrophobic are no exception.

From ripping, Slayer-like Speed Metal tempo to epic breaks resembling riffs by Immortal, the band’s sound has grown increasingly melodic since the days of their late and most unique contribution to the Stockholm scene, The Nocturnal Silence. A more savage and trimmed down effort than their previous record, Hrimthursum, Death to All provides an early alternative to what likely will be another summer-time bummer in World Painted Blood. Find in the album’s opening tracks – “Celebration of the Goat,” “Revelation 666” and “La Satanisma Muerte” – some of Necrophobic’s strongest work 20 years after forming the band before briefly switching to auto-pilot with “For Those Who Stayed Satanic,” a song with all the appearance of an Impaled Nazarene or even Darkthrone track that instead retains a completely straight-faced apocalyptic tone, slowing things considerably and weighing the middle down with its flat, melancholic choirs. They recover quickly, however, as the album’s second half returns with full speed and a less grating use of keyboards and groove on “Wings of Death” and the title track.

It may well be said that Necrophobic made their mark long ago before apparently settling into cliché. Their generic (if no less sincere) portrayal of Satanism – reflected in both the unimaginative cover and title of the album – lacks the occult mystery and lyrical gifts of a band such as Watain, appearing adolescent by comparison. The strengths of each album tend to fade quickly as with the work of Marduk, yet enjoy the benefit of being replaced soon after by a new offering, contracted like so many others, but not yet unjustified. Thanks primarily to guitarist/songwriter Sebastian Ramstedt, here is music that still evokes the sinister, evil spirit that many of the band’s idols and contemporaries have long since abandoned or lost touch with, embodying purity and zeal that cuts down the remaining few. Highly recommended.

[Todd DePalma]

Necrophobic
Death to All
2009
Regain Records
type: reviews    keywords: black metal, death metal, satan, lhp027, sweden,   

Comments (3)

  • 108 comments
    jniff
    11:30 AM on Jun 10, 2009 // reply »
    I agree that Nocturnal Silence is their best, but, yup, this is a strong album. Perhaps it's because they share guitarists, but after my first listen, I was reminded of the latest Nifelheim - particularly in the guitar work and tone - although with an OSSDM leaning.
  • 32 comments
    Invisible Oranges
    11:16 PM on Jun 12, 2009 // reply »
    I quite like this record. It's nice to see you guys cover music you actually like and not just give free publicity to music you hate.
  • 36 comments
    TD
    2:29 AM on Jun 13, 2009 // reply »
    Come on, Cosmo. You do realize now how full of shit you are, right? Look again: Funebrarum, Karnarium, Funeral Mist, Teitanblood, Katharsis, Cobalt, Armour, Beherit, Krieg, Bone Awl, Nightbringer, Necrophobic. Overwhelmingly positive. Plus all the retro-reviews and interviews we have up regularly. Compare that to what? Take downs of Mastodon, Wolves, Pestilence, Isis, Blake Judd and Sunn?

    We love Metal almost as much as you do.
 

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