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Nekromantheon’s first album is filthy and angry thrash. Considering the retro-metal phase going around most subgenres, it comes as a reminder of how vicious this side of metal was – and still is.
Part of the reason is the production. Much thrash sticks with a safe sound, keeping it from pushing forth a raw, lively atmosphere as it does onstage. Divinity of Death (High Roller / Duplicate, 2010) takes the underground, lo-fi route, which puts Nekromantheon neck and neck with the old-school fare of early Slayer, Exodus, and Sepultura. Though while checking off the obvious names for credentials, what sets Nekromantheon apart is filth.
Whether by a totally drunk recording session or through bringing together backgrounds from black metal to hardcore, Divinity of Death bears a thick layer of sweat, grime, and dirt akin to the scuzziest streets at night. One might revel in this, and see it as reclaiming that reckless vigour which hard rock, let alone its extreme branches, was so renowned for in the early days. Others, due to the developments to the thrash genre, may find it off-putting and go back to the likes of Evile or Bonded by Blood, content to bask in comic book escapism or less rash commentary. This record is not for everyone – just like thrash itself at its best.
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HEAR DIVINITY OF DEATH
- Full album stream -
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BUY DIVINITY OF DEATH
Duplicate (CD)
Undercover (CD)
High Roller (black vinyl)
High Roller (splatter vinyl)
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I like to imagine the image on the wall behind these dudes is a gigantic orange freshly burst from the psychic power of tandem invisible-orange-squishing.
Songs sound pretty cool. Definitely some gnarly guitars and delightfully shitty drums; I can get into this.
The caption of the photo could read: “This cave…is made of Midori!”
Super pissed I missed Necromantheon at the MDF pre-party last year. At least I got to see Obliteration though!
Nekromantheon were quite solid live at MDF Prefest ‘10– Sindre mentioned to me beforehand that it was their first fest outing. Still need to jam this. Obliteration, however, are a phenomenal band making great records. Nekropsalms is one of the best-written death metal records of the past few years. And, oh yeah, they killed it at MDF last year.
I just wanna know what those dudes are looking at that’s so interesting.
@Cliff – they’re reassessing their interior decorator!
It sounds a lot better on their myspace page. Whoever encoded it on Youtube didn’t seem to realize there are audible frequencies below 19kHz.
I really like this. Wish it were easier to come by in the US.
wherewolf – By golly, you’re right. For everyone else, here’s Nekromantheon’s MySpace:
http://www.myspace.com/nekromantheon
If I get time, I’ll see if I can find better-sounding streams.
Can’t fault a band that has a song called “Gringo Death.”
Oh, also: I like how this band just blatantly steals riffs/half-riffs/song parts from other (older) bands…they obviously don’t give a fuck. Still, it’s nice people are still listening to old thrash…
Agent Orange!
Cool band. I can expect them “ripping off” classic acts, but they sound A LOT like Aura Noir!!! Well, at least compared to The Merciless and Hades Rise, even down the almost Aggressor-like vocals.
VBERKVLT: Aggressor does some guest vocals on the album, that might be what you’re hearing.
There are some better sounding streams at http://nekromantheon.bandcamp.com