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PROCESSION
To Reap Heavens Apart

High Roller (2013)
Rating: 8/10

Not to be confused with the German death metal act, this Procession actually began life in Chile but later relocated to Sweden, and like almost every other doom metal act on the planet have followed in the footsteps of Black Sabbath with their oaken sound.

Interestingly however, this quartet – consisting of vocalist / guitarist Felipe Plaza Kutzbach, second axe-man Jonas Pedersen, bassist Claudio Botarro Neira and drummer Uno Bruniusson – despite their influences, are quite a pleasant listen, with To Reap Heavens Apart being their sophomore opus, following on from their 2010 debut Destroyers Of The Faith.

As doom metal records go, this is very much a mixed band and certainly has the sort of gothic feel that we would have become accustomed to with the classic sounds of Sweden’s Candlemass and US doomsters Solitude Aeturnus.

Firstly, the vocals of Kutzbach are crystal clear, giving the impression of a gloomier power metal vocalist, and while not reaching the mournful heights of Messiah Marcolin (Candlemass) they have an equally enchanting and smooth edge. Coupled with the very polished guitars, the tight bass and well-rounded drums, one can only be impressed by Procession’s intriguing yet classic brand of metal.

The artwork of the album suggests a band who are seeking vast landscapes within their almost romantic and magical sound, as the sweeping whispers and strums of ‘The Death Minstrel’ echo out across the airwaves. I’m not once reminded of bleaker wastes or the overtly stoned rumbling or occult influences of so many recent bands; instead, I’m transported back through a grey haze time machine to Candlemass and their gothic, but always accessible style.

‘The Death Minstrel’, despite almost clocking in at seven minutes, is a slow, pensive number that builds with simple narration and melancholic harmonies – the drums of Bruniusson a mere thunderous set of slow, painstaking footsteps across the courtyard. But if it’s epic you want, then epic you’ll most certainly get with the booming storms of ‘Far From Light’. Again, the riff is sullen and weighty but never dour, and as the bass judders amidst the slow, consuming waves of the guitar I still sense an uplifting classic metal feel to proceedings.

For all of its duration ‘Far From Light’ never once breaks into a jog. Instead, it leads us away from the darkness into clearer waters, but whether it’s the lonesome lope of ‘Conjurer’ or the lengthy backbone of the opus in the form of the title track and ‘Death & Judgement’, I’m sure all true doom metal fans will agree that this is how doom metal should be played.

Procession is not the most original band when it comes to displaying emotions of melancholy, but thankfully there is a great deal of positivity within the framework of To Reap Heavens Apart, leaving me feeling awash with sun rays and tales of ancient, albeit cracked kingdoms.

Neil Arnold

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