Black Lotus Records have themselves a winner here with Greece's The Elysian Fields fourth release Suffering GOD Almighty. The band have a very heavy Swedish feel to their brand of death metal, plus they add an electronic element to their music that really adds a fresh aura to their brutal metal onslaught. With just three members, The Elysian Fields manage to create a pretty enormous wall of sound with rampaging guitar riffs, plenty of keyboards, programmed drums, sampled effects, and pounding bass. The vocals of bassist Bill A. have that trademark death metal growl, which sounds fearsome amidst the crushing guitar work of Marinos A. on tracks like "Ravished With Thee Light" and "I Am Your Willing Darkness". Many of the arrangements contain intricate and symphonic keyboard passages, which add a nice progressive touch to the brutal nature of the tunes. "Unleashing the Propaganda" is a great example of this, as the complex guitar riffery plays off the orchestral keyboard textures while Bill delivers his venemous vocals.
This is a fine melodic death metal release from a very talented band who seem to know how to create masterful textures and bone crunching soundscapes. Let's get them over to the US so we can see them in action on stage in front of live crowds where they really can be appreciated.
Track Listing
1) Aeons' Unlight
2) I Am Your Willing Darkness
3) Suffering GOD Almighty
4) Ravished With Thee Light
5) Unleashing the Propaganda
6) I See the Lie Behind All Truths
7) An Overture of Sorrows Unfolding
8) All Those Tristful Winters
9) Anathema Unveiled
Printer Friendly Page
Send to a Friend
