Signs Of Darkness
The Fall Of Amen ()
Wydane przez Self-financedRok wydania Kraj BelgiumNapisał Wouter7
Since 1994 Belgian melodic black metallers Signs Of Darkness have been at the forefront of the scene. On their third record "The Fall Of Amen" the band continues the musical and conceptual direction taken with their second album "The 17th Floor" although the music has become faster and more in-your-face regarding song structures and delivery. This is certainly a farcry from their atmospheric semi-symphonic 2001 debut "Beyond the Autumn Leaves" and possibly the band's most accomplished record to date. While hardly playing at top speed Signs Of Darkness' use of eerie unconventional melodies and mechanical riffing add an otherworldly aura to the record. Recorded at Excess Studios, Rotterdam "The Fall Of Amen" features a high end production with a meaty thick guitar tone, rumbling bass lines and a powerful drum sound that doesn't dominate the whole. The icy vocals of main composer Joris Meeuwissen recall Legion (Devian, ex-Marduk) and to a lesser degree Satyr (Satyricon). Per usual the album comes with stunning sombre artwork by renowned fantasy painter Kris Verwimp (Enthroned, Marduk, Paths Of Possession) and features additional guest vocals by newly recruited Prejudice vocalist Chris van der Valk. All in all, Signs Of Darkness are the current Belgian black metal monarchs seeing as to how Ancient Rites went power metal and Enthroned not nearly are as potent as with former vocalist/bassist Sabathan. "The Fall Of Amen" might as well be the best the scene has to offer at this point.
www.signsofdarkness.be
