Reviews : Albums : Runemagick, "Requiem of the Apocalypse"
Email the reviewerRunemagick, "Requiem of the Apocalypse"
Runemagick play classic death metal with a touch of synths, a'la Edge of Sanity, old Hypocrisy, Samael, Asphyx and Amorphis, with some Bolt Thrower thrown in now and again, just to keep things moving. Spinning together atmospheric, doomy, death riffs with some demented melodic touches [see 3:15 4:19 of Beyond Life], a no-nonsense approach to ensemble orchestration, and a massive production results in crushing death metal with enough creepy atmosphere to keep you riveted for the entire 62 minute spin. Requiem of the Apocalypse is a riff-lovers dream come true. There's no wash of muddy 'brutality' or reverb-soaked 'atmosphere' to be found, just riff after riff, spilling out of the speakers with astonishing fluidity and a deep, crimson hue. Check out the crushing opener, or Dawn of the Lava Aeon for examples of how many killer riffs can be stuffed into one song and yet, how without any of them, it wouldn't be the same. The songs here are definitely more complex than those found on Enter the Realm of Death, but the added level of complexity helps enormously, be it the textural use of guitar tones, the tolling bell sampled for Bells of Death, or the hints of Middle Eastern melodies in Temple of Skin or Fields of No Life. On top of it all, Nicklas Rudolfsson's deep, throaty death rattles breath life into the songs with a pure, uneffected voice that does more with less than most do with a studio full of effects. He ditches the growls just long enough to deliver on of the album's highlights, a slow, rolling, spookshow called The Secret Alliance that drones it's way into your mind, thanks in no small part to Rudolfsson's vocals. I liked Runemagick's last album a lot, and Requiem of the Apocalypse sees them only getting more horrifying. Whether you remember the old days or not, this is one you won't you want to miss.
Standout Tracks Temple of Skin |
