Reviews : Albums : Immolation, "Harnessing Ruin"

New York's favorite agents of Satan have returned for a sixth full length of blasphemy and hatred, and I couldn't be happier. Ross Dolan might deliver his best vocal performance yet on this album as it is one of the few death metal albums I have that I don't need a lyric sheet for. This doesn't mean for a second that he stopped gargling with brimstone, he just fine-tuned it to get his message across. The rest of the band do their usual fine work, especially new drummer Steve Shalaty. He has fit in so seamlessly that I didn't even realize Immolation had a new drummer until I read the press kit to the album. The music is wonderfully heavy thanks to Dolan's bass and the guitar has plenty of time to shine. There are a ton of leads on this album, though they never get in the way of how the song needs to flow. They also never resort to pointless wankery, which makes me very happy. The only problem with the album is the production. Although they once again used Paul Orofino who has been producing their records since Failures for Gods, and almost counts as a full-fledged member of the band, the production is a little weak on this one. The overall sound seems a bit muted and the guitar is a little thin. I don't know how this happened given the great sound Orofino and Immolation gave their previous records Unholy Cult and the classic Close to a World Below. This doesn't hinder the album all that much, but it bugs me a little to know that this could have been better. This is very minor though since I still can't stop listening to it anyway.

Standout Tracks    All

K.Huckins