Project Description
DE PROFUNDIS
‘The Blinding Light Of Faith’
(Album Review 05-04-2018)
By Chris Reid
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“The Blinding Light of Faith is an album about three of the most merciless and bloodthirsty institutions in human history. There is no nation or people on this earth who haven’t suffered under the savagery of at least one of the Abrahamic religions and to reflect that suffering we have made the heaviest, most aggressive record of our career.”
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This is a massive statement from a band, but after hearing UK based death Metal act De Profundis’s fifth album it’s hard to argue with the last part of it – The Blinding Light of Faith is definitely a heavy and aggressive release. But more than just being a typical rip-tear-bust death metal offering this album contains plenty of melodic and progressive elements which make it a interesting and rewarding listen.
After a few plays through I’m getting a real Crimson-era-Edge-of-Sanity, or Morningrise-era-Opeth vibe from this release. For the most part this is due to the drawn out and well developed song structures, top shelf musicianship, and old school sounding vocal delivery. On top of that you have a really honest mix/production. This album sounds great, but it’s not the typical ‘over produced’ modern death metal sounds. The guitars and drums in particular sound organic and the vocals sound raw and unaltered. The playing is precise but honest – you just know it’s legitimate which is great to hear and see.
Every member brings something to the table which is why the release has so much to offer. Shoi Sen & Paul Nazarkardeh’s riffs and solos are equally heavy as they are complex and interesting. Tom Atherton’s drumming is sold and compliments the bands sound really well. Craig Land’s vocal delivery is well phrased and he keeps things interesting by employing gruff delivery styles ranging from early-swedish-death-metal-style grunts to throaty-black-metal-style shrieks. Arran McSporran’s fretless bass lines take the cake though – he adds a lot to the bands sound in general, giving the arrangements a layer of interest which really elevates the bands sound (see tracks like Opiate For The Masses and Martyrs).
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The Blinding Light of Faith will be released via Transcending Obscurity Records on May 10th and will tick all the right boxes for fans of classic era progressive death metal. I certainly agree with the label’s press release who recommend this album for fans of – (early) Opeth, Dismember, Edge of Sanity, Hypocrisy, Vader, Pestilence, & Bolt Thrower.
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