Album Review: Immolation - Acts of God
Reviewed by Daniel Phipps
There are a number of bands whose introductions will not properly portray their status within the death metal scene, and Immolation are one of those bands. For almost 35 years the Yonkers, NY based band have been producing some of the most evil sounding death metal available and continuously meeting the expectations of their fan base. The bands new record Acts of God has the pleasure of following Atonement which was from my recollection the most talked about Immolation record since I first discovered the band back in 2003.
Immolation have their sound, it’s often imitated and in fairness normally imitated well all over the death metal scene but you instantly know when it’s Immolation. The monstrous and muddy sound combined with thundering drumming and with the brute force low vocals. This sound has been Immolation’s signature since the Dawn of Possession record, still remains to this day.
This sound has been modernised over time but it’s still Immolation, it still has that vicious and ungodly sound riff after riff. Along with producing that unmistakable Immolation power Acts of God delivers several haunting passages and moments during tracks such as 'Immortal Stain' or 'Shed the Light' for example. These passages allow the tracks some time to breathe and then when combined with the sheer power from tracks such as 'Apostle' which was the first track fans were treated to from Acts of God showcases that Immolation still have the creativity and writing ability to just flaw their listeners with a devastating display of death metal.
Immolation have thrown their hat into the ring with one of the first big records of 2022. It contains all you want from the death metal titans and adds another notch into a bands discography which many would argue is the most consistent collection of records by any band within the death metal genre.
ICYMI - Check out our interview with Robert Vigna here.
