Ελληνικά
Last Updated on 02:36 PM by Giorgos Tsekas
Genre: Black / Death Metal
Country: U.S.A.
Label: Hell’s Headbangers Records
Year: 2016
Formed in 1990 by three former members of Incantation and having 3 full length albums and numerous releases on their backs (4 Demos, 3 EPs, 3 Splits, 1 Live Recording, 3 Compilation Records and 1 Single Release), Profanatica have returned with their fourth full length album, entitled “The Curling Flame of Blasphemy”, which was released on July 22nd via Hell’s Headbangers Records.
It’s a ten track album, with 37 minutes of total duration that puts Profanatica once again in the market. As anticipated, “The Curling Flame of Blasphemy” reeks of Profanatica’s personality and mightiness. They delivered a record that’s not supposed to be easy – flowing or generally pleasant to the ear in terms of aesthetics. That’s considered a success for the band, since they’ve stood away from nowadays’ gimmicks of the genre. They’ve remained true to their game, still raw and primitive as fuck, delivering uncompromising Black / Death Metal for the masses. Intense horror, provocative lyrical themes, supported by fierce vocals, droning melodies and steady drums that vary in complexity. The guitars and bass are a little bit muddy and sludgy, though seem perfectly appropriate for the gloomy atmosphere the band has created. There are some Doom / Funeral Doom elements thrown here and there, along with some long drone sounds (found in band’s like SUNN O)))), that add an anguish kind of feeling to the record. Of course their death metal riffing is their signature, so their old fans will be pleased by the outcome.
Considering the album as a whole, I felt that there were patterns that repeated themselves, thus making me lose interest, as I found myself distracted by something else enough times to make me think that something’s not right. “The Curling Flame of Blasphemy” was / is a bit tiring for me, something that could actually be eliminated should the record was an EP with half of the songs included. The sounds and rhythms and patterns and everything sound perfect for Profanatica, though looking the whole effort through another, more objective, prism, one can get the impression that the band lacks inspiration or that the record lacks those tracks that will make the listener bang their head violently. I truly understand why for some of you this record in one of the best extreme metal releases of the year or why many of the band’s long time fans were satisfied by the final result. For me, however, Profanatica needed to step up their game a little bit. It’s good to stay “true” to your roots and all that, though growth in every level is always welcome. “The Curling Flame of Blasphemy” is not a disappointing record; nonetheless it’s not a masterpiece either.
Last but not least, the album’s artwork took me by surprise as well, as it reminded me of Immolation’s “Dawn of Possession”, featuring patterns from Venom’s latest effort “From The Very Depths”. I don’t know whether this is good or bad for the band, but it seems to work for them for the time being.
3/6
