Weapon, Embers and Revelations
I wasn’t overly impressed with Weapon’s last full-length effort, From the Devil’s Tomb. It was a decent album but didn’t really capture my attention and the production was pretty shitty. Well, the Canada-based band has now signed with Relapse Records and gotten themselves a proper recording with their debut effort for the label. Embers and Revelations is not only much cleaner and richer in terms of it’s sound, but the band’s take on melodic, blackened death metal has improved as well. This album slays all things Holy and Righteous in the blasphemous name of Satan. Hell, yeah!
Album opener, “The First Witnesses of Lucifer,” starts off slowly at first before some neck-snapping chug arrives with a solid groove. This song gets you in the mood for some mayhem by the time it’s run its course — complete with pile-driving drums, Vetus Monarch’s raspy growls and swirling guitars. “Vanguard of the Morning Star” is a stellar track powered by an urgent pace and one hell of a combination between chorus and rhythm section. It’s melodic, but still 100% filled with vitriol and malevolence. The lead at 3:24 just feels flat out violent.
“Crepuscular Swamp” is a mid-tempo romp while “Liber Lilith” builds up slowly and smoothly to bestial series of blasts and machine-gun drum work before settling into a solid rhythm. The guys continue to build upon the song until about half way through when all Hell breaks loose with intense drumming and trading leads as if Satan himself is trying to rip you apart, limb from limb. It’s one of the more epic feeling tracks and is crafted wonderfully. After the fairly serene and atmospheric instrumental “Grotesque Carven Portal,” the title track starts off with memorable riffing and a huge helping absolutely barbaric drum work.
Weapon have turned me into a fan with Embers and Revelations. Their use of melody within this churning miasma of blackened death metal is focused and delivered in just the right amount. The band’s effective use of that melody and their ability not to overstay their welcome makes for one hell of a listening experience. Efficient song structures, well played material, aggressively delivered performance. What more could you want?