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Enfold Darkness
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Before The Final Reckoning
Self-Released
Release: 7/25/2006
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Rated:
Review by:
J Sherrod
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Ask anybody what the first thing that comes to mind when
Nashville, TN, is mentioned and the answer will be a
consistent, "Country Music." I'm sure even interplanetary
aliens know that. There's a logical reason though, since the
city is recognized world-over as the Country Music Capital.
Yep, it's hard to put out of your mind the image of a place
that is home to such American traditions as The Grand Ole
Opry, The Ryman Auditorium, Tootsie's Orchid Lounge and
countless other honky-tonks...and black metal band Enfold
Darkness.
Take a moment to sing the old Sesame Street
song "One of these things is not like the other/One of these
things just doesn't belong," and get back to me with your
answer. (If by chance you don't know that song, I feel
terribly bad for you childhood, but you should be able to
figure out the answer just the same.)
I was first introduced to these young metal upstarts when I
witnessed them open for legendary Death Metal band
Suffocation. A few weeks later they opened for Napalm
Death and Exodus. It's safe to say that they've secured a
slot as the go-to guys to kick things off when the big metal
acts roll through. I arrived too late to catch them at the
Exodus show, but I did see bassist Eviean DuReaux, who
kindly hooked me up with a copy of their new CD,
Before The Final Reckoning.
Though I personally don't care for a large majority of bands
that fall into the 'Black Metal" genre - Cradle Of Filth, Dimmu
Borgir, etc. - there's somethin' about these cats I dig, and
even I can't quite put my finger on it.
The disc kicks off with an orchestrated piece, "Babylon Is
Falling," setting the stage for the terror and wickedness the
band is about to unleash upon the listener.
Ok, allow me to be straight up by sayin' I can't understand a
goddamn thing singer Joshua Del Sesto is spittin' out, and I
truly could care less. Fans of this genre don't listen for the
vocal content. Instead, it's more focused on the intensity and
anger the vocalist delivers adding to the mechanically
precise drumbeats, hellfire guitar riffs and ferocious bass
licks. Del Sesto does just that with accompaniment of
guitarists
Matthew R. Brown and Michael Low's demonic backing
vocals.
Though the second and third songs are tight and right, it's
the fourth song, "Spells Lay Daggers," that floors my ass. I
love the way this song starts - with the musical equivalence
of an angry swarm of killer bees ready to flat out fuck up
any and everything in it's way. It's raw and unbridled metal
all the way though. Satan himself would have to give this
song an A+ for being such a superb work of evil.
This seven-track disc combines songs so evil - songs that
the kid that spit up pea soup from The Exorcist
would have to give a second listen - with beautifully
strummed instrumentals like title track, "Before the Final
Reckoning," all while incorporating a classical touch with the
opener and closer.
For a self-released album, Before the Final
Reckoning is very well recorded and produced,
complemented with well-written songs. Crisp and clean
guitar harmonies, nice snare drum snaps and tom rolls and
big meaty power riffs are everything a metal head needs. As
far as not being able to understand the lyrics, they're all
printed inside. Bonus points to the band for that.
Enjoy kiddies and let the nightmares begin. |
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