Year Released: 2017
Genre: Technical Death Metal, Blackened Death Metal
Country: USA
Similar Artists: Nile, Decapitated
Vocal Style: For some reason reminds me of Dagon from Inquisition.
Members you might know:
Jon Vesano: Was the vocalist and played bass for Nile from 2001 to 2005, playing on Annihilation of the Wicked, but only sang additional vocals on In Their Darkened Shrines. He has also done additional vocals for Nile on every album since 2002.
Subverseraph: Currently is the keyboardist and backing vocalist in Vesperian Sorrow.
Shawn Bozarth: Played guitar for Defiance from 2009 until 2012, the year they split up.
After getting past the slightly annoying radio wavelength sounds that are the introduction to “Will to Survive”, this album is a punch in the face. But don’t worry, it’s a good punch. The riffs sound like Nile with a less thick tone and the vocals sound black. In fact, this whole album is like listening to Annihilation of the Wicked by Nile especially since some of the riffs on the first track sound a lot like “Lashed to the Slave Stick”.
Upon the third track, this album will have established their Nile sound, especially when the guitar solo comes along. It has the perfect tone, emitting both power and adrenaline. This guitar tone is present throughout most of the solos on this album.
The production is a lot less thick and beefy as Nile’s fourth studio album, but it still sounds good. Actually, I think that it sounds a lot better like this because the guitar tone appropriately compliments the raspier vocals whereas Nile’s vocals were a lot more thick, thus the thicker guitar tone.
The fact that this album sounds so much like the only Nile album Jon Vesano played on is not surprising. It’s almost as if he wants to relive the glory days. And, if I am to be quite honest, he does it rather well. While obviously lacking the Middle-Eastern instrumentation of Karl Sanders, this album still successfully delivers the same vibe as that of the classic Nile masterpiece that is Annihilation of the Wicked.
Highlighted Tracks: Apparent Adversary, Fearing the Worst, Make Them Eat Glass, Drown the Child
Best Guitar: Apparent Adversary, Fearing the Worst, Drown the Child, Make Them Eat Glass
I. Will to Survive 9/10
II. Fearing the Worst 9.5/10
III. Apparent Adversary 10/10
IV. Return of Affliction 8.5/10
V. Drown the Child 9/10
VI. Guilty 8/10
VII. Infecting the Ranks 8.5/10
VIII. Make them Eat Glass 9/10
IX. The Collapse 7/10
X. Women and Children First 8/10
XI. Mourning on the Horizon 7/10
Overall Rating: 95%
The Metal Void 