RSS Feed


DEATHROW
The Eerie Sound Of The Slow Awakening

Folter (2014)
Rating: 7.5/10

Deathrow – not to be confused with the German cult thrashers – is an Italian black metal band formed by sole member Thorns. Thorns is a talented chap who has appeared in a veritable feast of bands over the years, ranging from live performances with Enthroned and Hobbs Angel of Death to lesser known acts such as Benighted In Sodom, Acherontas, Frostmoon Eclipse and many, many more.

The Eerie Sound Of The Slow Awakening is a furious, hate-filled black metal opus, the fourth outing from Deathrow since Thorns started the racket back in 2005. This despicable offering contains ten nefarious tracks, beginning with the intro ‘A Fallen Empire Of Flesh’, which leads us into the decadent realm of ‘The Sentinel’.

As one has come to expect with frightful, old school black metal, Deathrow’s brand of ungodliness comes via wretched vocal snarls, but above all, some extremely catchy melodies which manage to clamber their way out of the thickening black fumes of the initial barbed haste. Rapid drums and annihilating riffs embrace the cold, clammy atmospheres created by Thorns, and they work in tandem with what can best be described as a blackened thrash assault that is quite easy to access.

Sure, the music can become a touch generic when belted out at a pace, but it’s what Deathrow does between this that enables the album to stand out from the frosty crowds. In spite of their spiky nature, even the vocals are still partly decipherable. Through the likes of ‘Old Bones’, ‘The Illusion Of Control’ and one of my favourite tracks, ‘Worms And Silence’, there is that foetid air of accessibility that made the second wave of black metal in the 90s so appealing.

With ‘He, The Destroyer’ there is once again that battering ram of snow-laden pace, but for the benefit of the track there is still that injection of killer riff which shifts the tempo and allows the track to take a different path before reverting back to type. It’s all still wrapped up in that chilly air of misanthropy and disgust, whether in the form of ‘Dying In The Cold’ or the stark ‘Lost In The Grey’.

Surprisingly, Deathrow doesn’t opt for a crackly, remote production, but instead allows the instruments to breathe via crisper dynamics. In turn, this makes the riffs seem sharper yet all the more volatile as the drums are also given that extra kick. While there may be nothing mind-blowingly original about this composition, it is one that is constantly catchy and retains that obscure old world joy implemented by some of the purveyors of the scene.

Both rough and clinical at the same time, Deathrow’s latest venture into the darkness is one I can only recommend for those who like to dabble in black metal with attitude.

Neil Arnold

<< Back to Album & EP Reviews



Related Posts via Categories
Share