The marriage of symphonic elements in metal has been a course of debate. When it is too much - and what degree of actual instrumentation should be used versus a bevy of samples and loops piped through computers then translated through keyboard tones? Since their reformation in 2007 (as they originally released 6 albums up to 2003), Greece’s Septicflesh have been delving more into the layers of symphony in their atmospheric death metal template – hitting a home run through 2011’s The Great Mass in sonically achieving that 50/50 balance between electric and orchestral instrumentation.
The 9th studio album Titan has a lot to live up to then, as I’m curious where the quartet intend on going to further cement their newer style. From the opening sonic barrage on “War in Heaven”, you know that these gentlemen continue to explore the depths of darkness and heaviness through a cinematic scope – the layers give your brain and ears plenty to digest after every listen. Often taking a breather to build the tension of the arrangement mid-song, ensuring maximum retention of the hook or main riffs at hand – the blasting ability of drummer Fotis Benardo can also turn on a dime to doom.
Brutality is the order of the day on follow up “Burn”- a succession of aggressive hive swarming guitars and half-time relief parts sure to galvanize the underground masses into pits of frenzy. Employing an extreme and clean vocal outlook, bassist Seth Siro Anton handles the former while guitarist Sotiris Anunnaki V. handles the latter – and it’s in that atmospheric manner that adds another emotional level that is brilliant to juxtapose against the thunderous musicality on offer. Highlights include the dark hypnotic swell of riffing for “Prototype” as well as the tribal drumming and exotic bends that build into this symphonic ecstasy in the title track.
Septicflesh are in their own world, and as a result continue to astound. They never forsake their death metal roots, and the orchestral/choir parts are not added for flavor context but make total sense in their integration of songwriting. Titan is a worthy successor to The Great Mass, and if you haven’t discovered this band, Titan would be a great starter album.
Matt Coe, HMS
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