Necronomicon: Advent of the Human God

Not long after Necronomicon released Rise of the Elder Ones, I was traveling to Montreal on business decided to try setting up an interview with Rob the Witch, the band's guitarist and vocalist. We met on a quiet afternoon at a bar and talked about Lovecraft, heavy metal, and anything else that came to mind. I posted the transcript of most of that discussion on this website. My first (and lasting) impression of Rob is that he's a cool guy who understands the power that lies behind extreme metal. I mention all this because I think that Necronomicon is a sincere and hardworking band, the kind that does what it does for the love of music and the hope to connect with others with the same interests. There are also some fascinating lyrical materials in this band's body of work, most of which treat occult topics, but always with an eye for legitimate expressions of spiritual seeking. To my mind, there's nothing superficial about this band and what it does.

I've listened to all of Necronomicon's albums and like them all for different reasons. I always preferred the early material, mostly because I like hearing a band's young understanding of its music and where it wants things to go. I really enjoyed Rise of the Elder Ones, but I still turned to the earlier material when I wanted to listen to Necronomicon. With this album, I'll have to change my habit. Simply put, this is the best album this band has done. The music is tight and powerful and the individual parts are played with the maximum amount of energy and ability. The drums are especially out of this world, pounding out a consistently strong attack that is simultaneously fresh and dramatic. The guitars are also spot on; Rob's lead parts sound great and he brings an economy and precision to the solos that enhance the music well. He's a talented player but he doesn't need to prove himself by overdoing the lead parts. I was also impressed with his vocals. They sound a bit darker on this release, but they are better for it. It's hard to get the articulation right when pounding out a guttural growl, but Rob does a nice job on this one. As on past releases, the band occasionally breaks things up with ambient instrumental tracks. This album has slightly fewer of those tracks, but they flow with the heavier music effectively and without distraction.

Fans of extreme metal will want to check out this new release. In the Lovecraftian universe, the Necronomicon is a book best avoided for fear of what it may bring. But this Necronomicon is something that should not only be opened, but enjoyed. If nothing else, be sure to listen to "(I) Bringer of Light." It's a powerful track. I hope there's a big tour for this release.

Track Listing:
1. The Descent
2. Advent of the Human God
3. Okkultis Trinity
4. The Golden Gods
5. Unification of the Four Pillars
6. Crown of Thorns
7. The Fjord
8. Gaia
9. (I) Bringer of Light
10. Innocence and Wrath (Celtic Frost Cover)
11. Alchemy of the Avatar

Added: March 17th 2016
Reviewer: Carl Sederholm
Score:
Related Link: Band Facebook Page
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Language: english

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