Ελληνικά
Genre: Black/Death/Thrash Metal
Country: Norway
Label: Listenable Records
Year: 2025
The album is a compelling, previously unreleased death metal album originally recorded around 1991 and finally completed and released in 2025. It captures the raw, old-school brutality and innovative spirit Cadaver has been known for, making it a significant historical and musical artifact in extreme metal.
Musically, the album blends traditional early ’90s death metal with thrash and black metal influences, often incorporating progressive and atmospheric elements reminiscent of bands like Voivod and the early Florida and Swedish death metal scenes. This mixture gives the album a unique texture that is both nostalgic and fresh. The riffs are crushing and groove-laden, and the drumming is notably comprehensive and dynamic throughout the record.
The production is notably richer and more refined than typical early death metal demos, having been enhanced and remastered with modern techniques without losing the rawness crucial to its character. The sound quality allows the intricate song structures and complex guitar work to shine, while preserving that sense of “gnawed to the bone” authenticity praised by critics.
Vocals range in mid-guttural growls, supporting the dissonant and aggressive musical textures. Tracks like “Maltreated Mind Makes Man Manic” and “Chained To His Fate” exemplify the album’s balance of aggression and eerie complexity, with parts that oscillate between mid-tempo grooves and fast, furious passages. The album’s lyrics and tone are drenched in misanthropy and existential scorn, perfectly suiting the title and thematic direction.
In sum, Hymns of Misanthropy stands out as a raw yet thoughtfully crafted death metal record with deep historical roots. It’s recommended for listeners who appreciate the murkier and more experimental edges of early Norwegian and global death metal, seeking both nostalgia and innovative musicianship wrapped in an atmosphere of cold darkness and reflective misanthropy. It is a noteworthy release for extreme metal fans.
(Cover art is taken from ‘Christ in Limbo’ painting in oil on panel (1575), made by an unknown follower of Bosch.The painting is owned by Martha Delzell Memorial Fund.)
