Is there a single death metal band as historically consistent as Immolation? I think not. When we look back at their early 90s peers, nearly every one has an embarrassing moment or two scattered throughout their catalog. From the Rammstein mall industrial of Morbid Angel’s Illud Divinum Insanus and radio friendly stoner rock of Entombed’s Same Difference, to the meathead groove of Massacre’s Promise and flat out wimpiness of Morgoth’s Feel Sorry for the Fanatic, these bands sold out and they sold out hard. Meanwhile, Immolation continued to perfect their craft, becoming darker and deadlier with each subsequent release.
By now, to say Immolation’s effect on the death metal scene has been felt would be an understatement. Some of the hottest bands of the past decade (Blood Incantation, Cruciamentum, Ulcerate, Dead Congregation) owe their existence to the Yonkers based quartet. Alongside Incantation and Gorguts, Immolation spent the 90s pushing the boundaries of death metal, expanding the genre’s sonic palette and challenging its established norms, yet without ever losing its sense of purpose. And just when the glitterati start raving about the next batch of Immolation worship bands, the masters themselves arrive to remind us who’s boss. Such is the case with their latest album, Acts of God.
If you’ve loved every other Immolation album (and I sure have), there’s no reason you won’t enjoy this one. Acts of God carries on the grand Immolation tradition of brutally bleak death metal, as demonstrated on the opening title track. The guitars are tuned lower than hell itself, almost as if in contest with frontman Ross Dolan’s infernal gutturals to see who can conjure a legion of demons first. On top of this deadly combo is the band’s collective musicianship, which is sharper than the devil’s pitchfork. By no means is Immolation as technical as say Nile or the aforementioned Gorguts, but they certainly employ facets of the genre to their advantage. Take for example “The Age of No Light” and “When Halos Burn”, the latter being an all out cranial scrambling with an arrangement so absurd, Robert Fripp would blush.
When they aren’t flexing their virtuosic muscle, Immolation drags us into the void with a combination of dissonant riffs and desolate atmosphere. The tension and unease of cuts like “Noose of Thorns” and “Incineration Procession” is enough to grip your very soul. Some songs are played in matter that recall doom metal and even black metal (“Derelict of Spirit”), without fully crossing the threshold of either. One can’t help but hear these tinges thanks to the incorporation of slower and tremolo riffing respectively. But of course it wouldn’t be an Immolation without the signature hypnotic, trance inducing guitar lines of Robert Vigna. There are so many throughout this album that, quite frankly, I’ve lost track.
Yet again, Immolation have laid down the law like only they could. It comes so naturally to this legendary outfit, that I can’t help but be in awe. Naysayers be damned. Their majesty has not decayed. This unholy cult has only grown stronger in the passing years, and shows no sign of slowing down. Let’s just hope it’s not another half decade until the next Immolation album.
8 out of 10
Label: Nuclear Blast
Genre: Death Metal
For fans of: Incantation, Gorguts, Morbid Angel