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Immolation - Majesty and Decay

They Say:- With the release of Majesty and Decay, their first for Nuclear Blast Records, IMMOLATION has not only once again surpassed their previous releases, but has also without a doubt created their strongest, best produced and most crushing album to date! If a band has ever gotten better with age, IMMOLATION is the finest example. Recorded at Millbrook Sound Studios with long time producer Paul Orofino, mixed and mastered by the talents of Zack Ohren (Castle Ultimate Studios), and with the stunning artwork of Par Olofsson to complete the package, “Majesty and Decay” is an instant classic! With even a more violent militant edge, and some of the most disheartening musical landscapes the band has ever created, “Majesty and Decay” towers in size and scope, taking the listener to the darkest, bleakest depths that only IMMOLATION can provide. From some of the bands fastest moments recorded, to their most pounding unrelenting scores of depravation, “Majesty and Decay” has enough diversity and dynamics to lay the most die-hard listener to waste! If any album can define death metal today in its most true and matured form, this is it! Experience IMMOLATION for yourself and revel in the Majesty and Decay!!!

We say :- Hitherto, I have never been a huge fan of Yonkers Death Metal band Immolation. I always thought that they were just a little, you know, dull. Technically very good, heavy with some killer riffs but just a tad repetitive.

However a couple of things have forced me to reconsider that view and change my opinion of Immolation as they are in 2010. One of these things was a blinding live performance at Leeds Deathfest where they were definitely one of the highlights of the day mixing old and new material to stunning effect. The other is their latest album, Majesty and Decay.

Majesty and Decay is a surprising album in many of ways, this first is how mature it sounds compared to their previous releases. From the moment you see the epic cover art you get the feeling that this may be something a bit special. The second hits you when you start listening and come to realise how it supplies a compelling modern musical experience. One minute it's shredding thrash, and the next it's sweeping, riffing Death Metal. The album has an incredible balance between Speed, Power and brain pounding heaviness all served up by fantastically talented musicians.

The variety that exists within this album is fantastic. Here we have longer slower tracks mixed in with shorter almost violent high speed blasts. Of the lower tempo numbers “A Glorious Epoch” and “The Rapture of Ghosts” particularly stand out with their crushing riffs whereas “In Human Form” and “Power and Shame” are played flat out.

Another thing to commend this album is the vocal style of Ross Dolan. Whereas some death metal vocalists just roar and screech, Dolan is actually singing. OK, it's a low guttural sound straight out of your worst nightmare, but it's actual singing with actual lyrics that actually make sense.

What is on offer here is raw and heavy enough to keep the die hard Immolation fans happy, but it also has enough texture, variety and above all quality to interest people who otherwise would not listen to this particular type of Death Metal.

In Majesty and Decay, we have a record that deserves to be taken seriously outside the extreme metal circles and to propel the band onto the next level. Many consider Immolation to be sadly neglected and underrated, but if anything can to rectify that it's Majesty and Decay. I'm sure it's destined to become a classic of the genre, and will be there or there abouts in many peoples top tens for 2010.

Dizzy

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