Album Review: KHNVM – Portals To Oblivion
Reviewed by Daniel Phipps
KHNVM (pronounced as Kha-noom) is the brainchild of guitarist and vocalist Showmik Das a.k.a Obliterator. Following the 2019 debut record “Foretold Monuments of Flesh” KHNVM transcended from a studio project to a full band with the addition of members Cassian & Martyr who joined the ranks in 2020. KHNVM output with these new members in the ranks is Portals to Oblivion.
If you want a musical journey then KHNVM can certainly give you that, so pack your thermos and get ready. Each track within Portals to Oblivion gives the listener a varied experience, the albums furious dark old school approach sounds like it was spawned and transported itself straight out of 1991. Following its sombre and melodic intro track Portals to Oblivion brings a display of crushing old school death metal, with each track bringing sheer down tuned heaviness with strong blackened death metal influences which are brought in through each individual track’s progression.
With track like “Drink from The Chalice of Suffering” KHNVM showcase their ability to include demonic churning grooves. Their crushing riffs move in and out between the flurries of punishing old school death metal. Within the album’s title track and the 8 minute plus “No Solace” Portals to Oblivion take you on that epic death metal journey which was mentioned in the opening. Dark atmosphere is what KHNVM use to give these tracks their identity, the tracks have a strong resemblance to early sounding Morbid Angel within the base foundations of the song writing.
KHNVM combine the crushing old school sound with flashes of demonic blackened death metal. Portals to Oblivion will twist and turn like a maze as you are lead on its adventure. It’s ability to introduce the strong blackened death metal song writing adds that extra dynamic to the bands monstrous and crushing sound, which will enable KHNVM to build a strong rapport with fans of death metal and black metal alike.
