IMMOLATION „“Shadows in the Light””

Music: Death Metal
Country: USA
Web site: www.immolation.info
Cool Songs: Hate’s Plague, World Agony, Passion Kill

IMMOLATION has always been something different in the realm of death metal. These New Yorkers’ display all the elements found in a good death metal band including growling vocals, blasting drums, down-tuned guitars and unabashed aggressiveness. However, their take on this brutish musical style has always stood out from the rest. Instead of blazing ahead with pure speed, from track to track, the group inserts numerous direction changes. An IMMOLATION song moves in a serpentine fashion, going this way and that, encircling the listen into its venomous coils before unleashing the deadly blow. The drums constantly roll with the rest of the group following tightly. They are most distinct in their use of guitar harmonics, though.

The second full-length release for Century Media in The States—“Shadows in the Light”—adheres to the same formula, but this time the group has come the closest in their career to perfecting their craft. First, the recording is as clear as ever. IMMOLATION surely got their money’s worth at Millbrook Sound Studios (TWISTED SISTER, ZAKK WYLDE). Second, the song writing is superb. IMMOLATION is associated with writing lyrics based on religion, but for the second consecutive album, they have turned their gaze away from anti-Christian themes to the East and the mindset of the Islamic terrorist. This subject matter is of a much darker tone because it is reality-based, and being from New York, the group fully understands the danger of the Jihad mentality.

The group writes each song with short lines, allowing Ross to draw his growl out to fill in a whole riff, in turn bringing attention to the ideas expressed in a single word. Short lines combined with long lines also dictate the pace and rhythm. Every track seems to change at the precise moment. Whether it is a lead, a drum fill or falling speed, IMMOLATION inserts each segment with surgeon-like precision. “Breathing the Dark” begins with the band moving in a circular direction led by skins man Steve Shalaty’s rolling drums. Bob Vigna makes subtle use of his tremendous guitar harmonics. This track moves forward when the double bass kicks in, gradually building to the moment of speed more than a minute into the track.

“Hate’s Plague” introduces the album in flaming speed. Again, the group brings in subtle changes that create obvious dynamics. The first subtle change observed in this track comes by way of a lead harmony. All the musicians contained on this album are more than proficient with their craft, but the guitars are what truly make this recording special. “World of Agony” begins with a dive-bombing riff. An eerie harmonic lead soon overlaps this main riff. More eerie leads come near the end of the track to accompany the doom-laden riff. This atmospheric part fits well with the narrator’s stark realization of the Earth’s total destruction.

After twenty years of cranking out classic death metal albums, IMMOLATION is only getting better. This type of maturating is so rare in this scene or any metal scene. Unlike so many bands, IMMOLATION has succeeded in never falling prey to the dull drums. Since 1988, they have delivered the same punishing brand of death metal with the same amount of conviction. With “Shadows in the Light,” they have managed to apply new ideas to an old story. IMMOLATION proves they are a band at their peak!

note: 9/10

Tracklist

1. Hate's Plague
2. Passion Kill
3. World Agony
4. Tarnished
5. The Weight of Devotion
6. Breathing the Dark
7. Deliverer of Evil
8. Shadows in the Light
9. Lying With Demons
10. Whispering Death
Total playing time 40:30

Line-up

Ross Dolan – Bass, Vocals
Steve Shalaty – Drums
Bill Taylor – Guitar
Bob Vigna – Guitar