Comprised of two vocalists and one instrumentalist going by what can only be assumed to be their initials – ML and RS on vocals with LL handling all instrumentation – and appearing from out of nowhere, Finland's Desolate Shrine bring forth their debut slab of atmosphere-heavy blackened death metal. Foregoing the unreserved barrage of black metal in favour of death and doom metal elements defines the aura of darkness and omnipotent oppression across the album. 'The Smell of Blood and Iron' is a bludgeoning death riff-laden opener, whereas 'Mouths of Baal' is a slow, doom-heavy dirge. And 'The Brightest Night', an eight minute-epic, is swathed in moonlit abhorrence. Yet it's the details in the monolithic and harrowing tunes (could they indeed be called such) that will bring repeat plays. Placing song writing at the forefront of the otherworldly, repellent and putrescent miasma, Tenebrous Towers marries death and black metal in the right proportions to conceive of an evil beast that demands attention. Though not without its flaws, this is a monster of a debut that is a potent portent of what Desolate Shrine will be.
Track Listing:
1. The Smell of Blood and Iron
2. No Place for a Human
3. Mouths of Baal
4. Crushing Darkness
5. The Brightest Night
6. Chaos and Wrath
7. Born to Lose One's Way
8. Burning Devotion
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