Reviews : Albums : Immolation, "Harnessing Ruin"

There are no bands quite like Immolation. They sound like a dead man; like a murder victim; like anxiety. And all this without hokey lyrics or a silly image to hide behind. Having explored a slightly new path with their last album, "Unholy Cult", the New York quartet seems back on track, so to speak, with this new ton of death metal. "At Mourning's Twilight" props demented squeals up against layers of minor chords in classic form, with the overwhelming "Crown the Liar" taking things back a decade to the delivery of their early Metal Blade days. "Son of Iniquity" is an instant classic, replete with inescapable chords and cymbal syncopation laid out by new drummer Steve Shalaty, who aptly picks up the daunting task of Immolation's style. Also of note this time around is great attack on the bass of Ross Dolan, adding another element to the already rich sound of the band so wonderfully captured by long-time producer Paul Orofino.

THIS is death metal.

Ngolls