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Shaarimoth performs what one could call ritual death metal. While other bands use annoying short intros and outros between the metal tracks to give the proper “occult” feeling, this Norwegian act don´t give a damn about cliches and overtly even employ tracks that are rites and invocations in a strict sense (though this is still metal, pure metal, not one of those tricky ambient-metal pretentious bands...). Let´s add the fact the lyrical concept is deeply devoted of Sumerian myths and entities in a very formal focus (not as other cheap bands messing around the scene...), and therefore we have before our eyes and ears a ritual death metal capable to unleash great music. “Current 11” is mainly influenced by Morbid Angel, early Morbid Angel to be precise, although incorporating various elements which make you forget about them being clones of no one. The sound is far from pretentious technical metal with clinic sound, in favour of uncanny death tunes blending a dark sound and feeling. Of course, technical skills are not bad at all, these guys know how to handle the instruments to achieve their goals. Excellent guitar movements sensitively managed and arranged (even those slow passages in the middle of a song fit perfectly in the music); the drumming is as intense in the fast violent parts as in the solemn, hermetical moments.
As a matter of fact, the production is peculiar. In the beginning I missed some lower guitars in general; there are no reverbs or long chords, the notes give the impression of being a bit short and dry sometimes. Perhaps it was the will of the band, rejecting the modern standard down-tuned guitars which fill the mix most of the times with those resounding chords... Strangely enough, they´ve succeeded, so that´s something I´ve enjoyed in the end as a personal trait of Shaarimoth: the balance between clean and dirty production is convincingly reflected through the sharpened melodies. Ethnic instruments is also something scarce to taste in a death metal band, and these guys manage to use them in a convincing way, for example in the title song: it starts with the aggressive vocals sounding over the folky tunes and in the last part the ethnic and metal instruments conform a joint movement that would make Orphaned Land pale in comparison! The more I listen to “Current 11”, the more I enjoy its secrets. The Sumerian dark gods have an awesome soundtrack in this album. Wish there were more death metal bands like this on the scene: honest, violent, uncommercial and seriously occult. Excellent!
| Tracklist |
| 1. Opening |
| 2. Legion Of Kingu |
| 3. Utukki Limnuti: - (Summoning Of The Seven) |
| 4. 218 |
| 5. Incantation Of Hubur |
| 6. Flood The Cosmic Gates |
| 7. Current 11 |
| 8. It Came From The Desert |
| 9. In The Shadow Of Akhkharu |
| 10. Come Mother, Come! |
| 11. Closure |
: 39.26
| Buy other Shaarimoth albums |
