Taking 5 Skull Reviews in a much darker direction today, after a fairly extended break from reviews that I needed. Let's see what Sofia, Bulgaria based Dementify have been up to lately.
Titled "Dementify II" this second album from the Bulgarian black metal band is dark and bleak without sacrificing sound quality. Dementify interject their heavy riffing with haunting piano melodies, as well as keyboard/organ sounds.
"Posession" shows Dementify making full use of their dynamic potential, from quiet low piano sounds to heavy harsh riffing.
"Plague" is a bit more subdued, once again featuring the piano melody. The wandering yet repetitive melody in this song reminds me of "Lux Aeterna" by Clint Mansell a bit. The rich and threatening sounds on this are somehow incredibly catchy.
Next up is "Baelfire" which comes off as a bit more upbeat, and it really showcases the singer's abilities. He sounds a tad like Marilyn Manson to me, but with a thick accent. Dementify make heavy use of the organ on this song, which features the heaviest drumming on the EP. Dementify isn't a blast beat band, but they make interesting use of heavy drums without overdoing it.
The final song on the album is called "Hanging" and it features a different spoken word style vocal over a slow and attention-grabbing piano melody. The guitar joins, creating lush soundscapes instead of a chorus.
Dementify is, to me, the result of doom and black metal mixing together. The drums plod along at a slow trudge while the guitar and piano sounds work to create tortured yet earworm-worthy sounds.
Overall, I thought the piano was a tad high in the mix, and the vocals were a little bit low, but this is a huge step in the right direction for Black Metal as a genre, which usually creates a muddy, harsh ball of sound in the midrange. "Dementify II" is obviously a well thought out collection of songs, and it put me in a somber mood.
Don't just take my word for it though, be sure to listen for yourself!!
"DEMENTIFY II"
Type: EP release
Release date: August 29, 2018
Label: Self-released
Tracklist:
01. Possession (5:14)
02. Plague (4:52)
03. Baelfire (3:52)
04. Hanging (5:03)
How to get it:
Bandcamp:
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THE VERDICT:
4 out of 5 Skulls
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