Immolation

Unholy Cult (Century Media)
by Tim Den

What’s this? An album that doesn’t totally rule my dark kingdom? Has age gotten to Immolation? For the first time since the NY band’s inception, the ominous, wretched cries of the guitar bends have been traded in for traditional grinds and chugs. No more howling spectres pillaging my ears with decomposing voices… just tight, muscular riffing that’s standard death metal fare. Which means Unholy Cult is still a good album, just not an Immolation classic. Close to a World Below was such a perfect mix of catchiness, tormented sounds, inverted time signatures, and brutal production… let’s hope the band reaches that peak again next time.
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