Album Review: Blasphemer - The Sixth Hour
Reviewed by Tim Finch
Italian extreme metal stalwarts Blasphemer have a reputation for pure brutality in their music, its loud, uncompromising and violent. Having recently signed with Candlelight records they are about to release their third full length album on the world.
‘The Sixth Hour’ promises to be the most extreme of releases in the heavy metal world this January. Show casing twelve songs of pure blackened-death metal, mastered at the famous studio Hertz in Poland, known for their work with Behemoth, Decapitated and Vader.
It is somewhat of a concept album, it’s main theme Surrounds the crucifixion of Christ. The intended aim of the album is to depict Jesus as merely human, trying to transpose into music the agony he felt in the last day.
‘Let Him Be Crucified’ sets out the albums stall both in terms of the concept and the brutality held with in the music. The dark snarling guitar introduction building into a cacophony of blast beats and deathly growls. This is the modern day death metal at its extreme peak. Throughout the album Jesus' tale is told via Clod De Rosa’s guttural barks. The throat ripping vocals the driving force behind the bands message, but it the music that tells the real story. Guitars that are thrashy in places but not afraid to alter their pace. The constant that remains is the aggressive sound which they portray.
This isn’t PG listening, this is the 18+ where the music needs to come with a warning of extreme aural violence throughout. The concept of this album is a well trodden path, subject matter that most are familiar with, however put to music in a very unique way by Blasphemer. If you are a fan of modern death metal at the very extreme of the genres spectrum, then this album is for you.
Blasphemer release ‘The Sixth Hour’ via Candlelight Records on January 24th
