Vile, rotten lands filled with souls of the dead, that were unable to reach the castle’s shrine are presented to us just by this mesmerizing album cover, and the music behind this darkened purple citadel has a lot to say as well.
Turkish blackened death metal outfit, Shrine of Denial have published their debut Full-length record titled “I, Moloch” that consists of triumphant and chaotic themes, with a somewhat groove oriented yet technical sounding death metal sound. Within my first listen through I was for sure agreeing upon the fact that there is a lot of Morbid Angel influence all over this album, whether it’s the riffs or drums that lead the riffs to fulfill the empty spaces near this blackened shrine. However, i don’t in any way think that this isn’t an original piece of music presented to us, and i can sense that there is a lot of originality during the songwriting stages of this full-length, a perfect eye-opener to this statement would be the track titled “The Mesmer” where the band took inspiration to create melodies that would describe a duel of magicians who wield deception as a weapon, hence the name.
There is hints of oriental sounding melodies in parts of tracks, at times reminding me of early Nile records, really making them sound distinct from others in the genre. The intricate interplay between the percussion, the dynamic vocal delivery, and the unpredictable on-off riff patterns not only creates a sense of controlled chaos but also amplifies the overall impact of each rhythmic shift, making every transition feel deliberate, jarring, and all the more visceral. On another note, the production on this record leans into a cavernous, murky soundscape, allowing the guitars to make a podium for themselves, and simultaneously highlights the percussion and vile drumming that carries the melodies like waves to the listener. The bass, though somewhat buried beneath the relentless onslaught, occasionally surges to the throne, most notably on the side A of the record.
There’s a lingering sense that Shrine of Denial has crafted something far more than just a standard blackened death metal debut. This album is a descent into a world of spectral horrors, and I’m not even talking about the cover art making it seem like one. Really fascinated and surprised that this album almost went under my radar, it truly deserves more recognition.
Shrine of Denial “I, Moloch” released March 7th via Transcending Obscurity.
Track Listing:
1. Climbing Through Nothingness
2. A Sanctuary in the Depths of the Realms
3. I, Moloch
4. Pillars of Ice
5. The Mesmer
6. Oneiros
7. Headless Idol
8. Temple of the Corpse Misuser
Watch “I, Moloch” official music video here:
Source: metaladdicts.com
