2011
03.31
03.31
Format: CD
Release Date: 31.03.2011
Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Depressive Black
A new work from American musician who continues his immersion into the depths of hate and despair with the help of depressive black metal. Featuring its own style and individualism Benighted In Sodom creates dense atmospheric musical canvases. It broadens the frames of the genre on the one hand not rejecting themes of pain, suffering and suicide and on the other hand introducing novel themes (Ocean I и Ocean II). Hate and Despair is the essence of the picture of the world enclosed into magnetic music of Benighted In Sodom.
Tracklist:
1. Sweetness Depraved
2. Chains of Bliss
3. Try to Forget Us
4. Flauros
5. Ocean I
6. Ocean II
7. Reverse Baptism
Review
Obscura
11.04.2011
First thing I thought as the very first notes of “Sweetness Depraved” went on, from the new album by American band Benighted In Sodom, was Silent Hill.
For those familiar with the very famous game franchise it will be a real delight to be carried on by depressive and claustrophobic guitar notes of these compositions, whose purpose is not to emulate the famous game, but to build up sad and depressive tunes around Black and Doom metal genres.
The match seems to work in a perfect way, and if we only take a look to the huge collection of release by the band in such a very short range of time (the band started in 2004), we will notice how the quality and creativity are high.
In this new album ‘Reverse Baptism’ there’s not only the usual Burzum-derived slow Black Metal for we can find here also traces of mid-90′s Katatonia which give the songs an incredible atmoshpere without being monotone or boring.
To be honest, this is almost an instrumental album because there aren’t many vocal parts into each song, but this is not a thumb down at all: I personally consider it a pro and you will be able to agree with me after having listened to the song “Chains Of Bliss” which is downloadable for free from the label webpage here.
I wish this new release by Benighted In Sodom will receive an adequate promotion it deserves because honestly I consider it a little treasure to be discovered, appreciated and get addicted to.
Author: Gabriele Frontini
Review
MetalStorm
17.04.2011
Here we got a great example of atmospheric and depressive Black Metal. Deep, atmospheric music that takes the listeners into melancholic soundscapes. That is the kind of music that it is most enjoyable -to me after all- when listened on the very final late hours of night just before the first early morning (or mourning) hours? Beautiful and dark melodies, atmospheric keyboard fillings, vocals that keep a silent hate hidden behind their melodies. This is music for your personal dark moments.
Author: IndieRock
Review
Zwaremetalen
8/10
18.04.2011
Het Amerikaanse Benighted In Sodom perst er met grote regelmaat een nieuw album uit. Sommigen goed, anderen zeer goed. Dit zonderlinge figuur, Matron Thorn, is zich echter van geen kwaad bewust en zolang de kwaliteit gestaag blijft komen, hoor je mij niet klagen. De nieuwe plaat heet Reverse Baptism.
De introductie in dit nieuwe album doet bijzonder Shining aan. Een dromerige, licht melancholische sfeer met een jazzy bas en akoestische gitaar. Na enkele minuten slaat dit om naar een depressieve uitbarstig vol droefnis en kille agonische vocalen en distortion. Chains of Bliss klinkt opnieuw bijzonder Shining-achtig met transparant gezongen screams, “emotioneel” beladen arrangementen (denk Livsnekad) met ijzig huilende gitaren. Depressive black metal dus, zonder de gelaten passiviteit maar mét haat jegens het bestaan. Het tempo ligt relatief hoog (Flauros), een verschrikking bij de loom naar beneden hangende Duitse depressive black metal-luisteraars. Benighted in Sodom heeft tegenwoordig een volle sound aangemeten gekregen, de snerpende gitaren zijn op deze plaat naar het hiernamaals verwezen, samen met de machinale drumsound. Ambientgeluiden doen nog steeds dienst als verduisteraar, maar spelen geen hoofdrol op dit album.
Reverse Baptism klinkt een stuk minder “extreem” dan het meeste vorige werk van Benighted In Sodom en sluit eerder aan bij de Zweedse depressieve black metal-scene dan bij de iele Amerikaanse lotgenoten. Mits de nodige ruchtbaarheid kan deze band in Europa meer voet aan de grond krijgen op basis van dit album, al houd ik het persoonlijk bij de eerste indrukken en geluiden die ik van de band ken. Dat neemt echter niet weg dat dit album er best mag zijn in het alcoholst van de nacht (met dank aan Jack Hellfire).
Author: Bart Alfvoet
Review
Metalstorm
7.5/10
24.04.2011
Matron Thorn, perhaps the busiest depressive black metal musician aside from Kim Carlsson, is at it again with Reverse Baptism. Of course Benighted In Sodom isn’t really comparable to Hypothermia (or Lifelover for that matter), as BIS is a more melodic vehicle of expression and the average album isn’t “mired” by extremely raw production values, but it’s a fact both musicians are responsible for releasing a ton of albums in a relatively short time (10 full-lengths in 4 years, for instance).
Quantity in this case doesn’t necessarily relate to poor quality. In fact, Thorn’s consistency is something to marvel at: having toyed with atmospheres and emotions, he has managed to avoid stagnation. The sound itself on this album isn’t unlike anything Benighted In Sodom have released before; however, it still offers enough variety to keep the average listener interested – at least, if you’re the worthless, self-pitying scum-of-the-earth kind of person this genre makes you feel like you need to be in order to appreciate it in the first place.
Typical lyrical content (themes of hate, self-loathing, and suicide) is overshadowed by some truly murky guitar melodies, as the album makes a slow crawl for the finish line, stopping momentarily for some blastbeat mayhem and venomous self-loathing. Thorn’s focus on creating an almost soothing atmosphere somewhat contradicts his truly vulgar vocal performance, but overall the pseudo-ethereal ambience makes for a less hostile album. This could of course result in a backlash from some of the true crusaders, but there are enough satisfactory by-the-number black metal elements that should keep most of the vultures at bay.
Realistically this album will likely fly under the black metal radar for 2011, but as a primarily atmospheric depressive black metal release, Reverse Baptism will definitely please fans of the style and keep Thorn’s reputation as a workaholic alive.
Author: Troy Gallant
Review
Minacious Webzine
If I really rush this review and this weeks update I can claim that this is the latest Benighted in Sodom release (a joke close to the one I made in my last review of an Benighted in Sodom album, which I did in September 2010, sine two albums and two EPs has been released). Anyway, the music on this album follows the same path as the previous Benighted in Sodom releases, slow agonizing, droning and misanthropic Black Metal. With a truly dark atmosphere that conveys despair and isolation in masterful way. Listen to this and stare into the abyss.
Author: Mordant
Review
Cosmos Gaming
27.04.2011
The American black metal scene has seen some pretty active bands over the last few years, but few have put out as much material as Benighted in Sodom. After creating the project in 2004, Matron Thorn has released nine full lengths and tons of splits and EP’s. Despite the sheer quantity of material that he has been putting out on a yearly basis, the quality has been fairly consistent. Benighted in Sodom’s first major album of 2011 is entitled Reverse Baptism, and those who have managed to keep up with the group’s frantic pace will be surprised to find that the production is much cleaner and there are even more ambient passages than before. It’s not quite the best piece of work that the project has put out, but it is a strong enough effort that depressive black metal devotees will want to pick up.
I haven’t heard every piece of material that this project has released, but based on the previous full lengths that I’ve been exposed to it does seem as though Reverse Baptism is the cleanest material that Benighted in Sodom has released to date. Rather than going for the extremely noisy lo-fi sounds typically associated with depressive black metal, Matron Thorn has used a clean production/mix that allows the ambient melodies to fully expand and grab the attention of the listener. This release has sprawling ambient passages that are interjected with some harsher black metal riffs, but as a whole the sound leans more towards introspective depression rather than the hellish feel or other acts. There are some truly stunning moments such as the haunting “Try To Forget Us”, but some of the other songs feel a little drawn out and don’t have the same ability to really stink the listener in.
Matron Thorn mixes harsh screams and clean singing on Reverse Baptism, but unlike many of the other black metal screamers he enunciates well enough that you can often understand what he is saying. On the aforementioned “Try To Forget Us” Thorn decides to only use clean singing, and his voice has a very fragile feel that only make the lyrics hit even harder. It’s actually a positive element that the lyrics are decipherable, as there are some very dark and twisted themes that are handled in a more intelligent manner than is typical for the depressive black metal genre.
Reverse Baptism has some songs that are absolutely stunning and a few that feel as though they drag on just a little too long. Compared to other bands in this genre, Benighted in Sodom is still one of the better ones out there and this disc is worth diving into if you’re familiar with the group’s work. However, compared to the rest of Matron Thorn’s massive discography this release falls somewhere in the middle and I would personally go for some of his earlier efforts if this is your first exposure to Benighted in Sodom.
Author: Chris Dahlberg
Review
Femfogacs
9.3/10
01.05.2011
“Amikor elégetünk egy liter benzint vagy egy hektár esőerdőt, nem pont a jövőt gyilkoljuk meg a jelenért?”
/Chuck Palahniuk – Cigányút/
A Benighted in Sodom kapcsán már írtam kritikát nem is olyan rég, szóval így mellőzném a bio- és discográfiai köröket. Mellesleg Matron Thorn egy hihetetlenül aktív művészke lehet, hiszen tavalyi Hybrid Parasite Evangelistica kritikám óta ez a harmadik nagylemez, egy válogatás és két EP, s mindre talált kiadót…
A zenei koncepció 2010-hez képest vajmi keveset változott, most is depresszív és sötét black metalt kapunk a floridai fiatalembertől, aki gyógyszeres túladagolások és önmaga testének érhálózatának megismerése helyett a gitárját pengeti, holott nem haladna ennyire előre. A Bad Mood Man a felelős, így hát a hangzás korrekt és a külsőségek is remekül illenek ehhez az életunt vegetációhoz, amelynek alapvető tónusai most is a Burzum, Life Is Pain illetve Forgotten Woods féle berkekből állnak össze. A különbség csak annyi, hogy most összefolynak a dalok, darkos post-rock jelleget ölt és sokkal több a nyugodt és lüktető zuhanás, egy nagy hullámzás részei leszünk a Halál bárkáján, testünk együtt hánykolódik az élet véges tengerén, amint lassan süllyedni kezd a hajó, hogy mérgével eloszlassa a kétely, a boldogság és örökkévalóság ködfelhői felől. A búskomor dallamok és fájdalom egyvelege erős és lassú mozdulattal tépi fel a mélység lassan összeforrtnak tűnt varratát, hogy betekintést nyerjünk az emberi lélek és elme rejtett berkeibe. Hogy aztán amit ott találunk azzal a tapasztalattal elgondolkozzunk minek van értelme és mit adhat a boldogság?
Időt?
Reményt?
Előnyt?
Meddig és kinek és miért, no meg hova és úgy egyáltalán minek??! A létezés egy folyamat, amely a születés pillanatában kezdődik el, visszaszámol és kivár, hogy aztán az elmúlás vagy a hirtelen halál betegségévé legyen testünk és lelkünk. Felveti az öröm, boldogság, érték és értelem halmait, melyek mindegyike az idővel szemben nem képes lépést és előnyt kovácsolni, így tehát visszazuhan önmaga szánalmas létezésébe. Ennyi tehát az élet, nem több, nem kevesebb, s ezen semmi sem változtat, sem a család, sem a kéj, sem a gyermek, sem a siker, sem a megbecsülés, sem a nyugalom, sem a bódulat. Olyan fura és fájó érzés eltemetni szeretteinket, hogy legszívesebben azt kívánnám; bár csak én lennék a koprsóban, melyre oly mohon hullanak a földhantok – látni ismerőseink gyerekeit, amint még karon ülő volt, most pedig szalad, szemlélve szüleinket, akiket bús ráncokba kötött az elgyötört élet, és elgondolkodni azon; mi értelme volt? Mikor ők sem boldogok és én sem, akkor minek? Minek szenvedünk? Minek ez az egész faszba vert létezés, ha értelme csak a jelenre korlátozott és könyvekben, sírkereszteken maradnak nyomai, amíg a jövő megőrzi azt tudatban, papíron, vagy már azon se…
Nos, ilyen és ehhez hasonló kérdéseket vet fel újra és újra a Benighted in Sodom atmoszférikus haláltánca, a válaszok elmaradnak, hiszen ezeket nekünk kell megválaszolni önnönmagunk számára, ha nem most, akkor 30 év múlva, ha nem akkor, akkor majd máskor, de minden értelmes létező felteszi magában egyszer a kérdést, hogy mi értelme és minek is ez az egész. Lehet félni és szorongani a Haláltól, a mindennapokba zuhanva; munkába, családba, kurvákba, fiúkba, lányokba, szerekbe és alkoholba, szeretetbe, szerelembe menekülve a jelen pillanatnak élni, de ahogy az aktus után, a tisztulás után, az álom és kapcsolat után nem marad semmi, csak az üresség, úgy az életünk tere is csak ugyanerre hivatott, ettől pedig szánalmassá és kicsinyessé lesz az Ember!
Author: HardSICK
Review
Darkside
8/10
18.05.2011
Пятый альбом Benighted in Sodom формально развивает идеи предыдущего творения Матрона Торна «Hybrid Parasite Evangelistica», но при этом старательно выискивает во мгле нигилизма свой путь, оглядываясь больше на наработки молодой пост-роковой смены, предпочитающей задумчивые и созерцательные звуковые пейзажи (впрочем, американские блэкари вообще редко занимаются изучением матчасти и клонированием первооснов, заложенных «северными варварами»). Посвященный любящим прогуляться по коридорам американских школ с дробовиком в руках психам, «Reverse Baptism» погружает в пучину отчаяния…причем именно «погружает» и именно «в пучину». Добивается этого Матрон просто – гитары настроены выдавать медитативные зацикленные тремоло в промышленном масштабе, тяжелый риффинг убирается совсем на задний план, выталкивая вперед рваные сольные партии, ритм пробивается агрессивными скоростными бластбитами и в остальном не всегда заметен, электронный эмбиент, блуждавший тенями на предыдущем диске, изгнан за ненадобностью. Результат необычен и заставляет вспомнить японцев «Mono» и их ранние альбомы, в которых стена неподвижного звука часто обрушивалась на слушателя, погребая под обломками. Автор Benighted in Sodom, следуя этой логике, долго накручивает себя зыбким гитарным гулом, распаляясь до того, что ненависть к жизни прорывается сквозь медикаментозный заслон потоком плотного шума и полным отчаяния надсадным криком, издавая который, Торн постарался, чтобы его слова не просто осели строчками в буклете, а были понятны всем и каждому. И все-таки «Reverse Baptism» звучит как «альбом-размышление», работа зрелого музыканта, пытающегося не просто вытолкнуть слушателя из объятий рассудка и хорошего настроения, а стремящегося скорее предупредить о чем-то мрачном, что скрыто в повседневном мире. Отсюда и необычно звучащая (в альтернативно-МТВишном стиле), но превосходно бьющая по нервам песня «Try to Forget Us», и экспериментальная дилогия «Ocean», в рамках которой автор играет со стилями, балансируя на грани чистоты и грязи и рассуждая о вечности, к которой каждый может приблизить себя при помощи лезвия, вновь «любезно» вынесенного на обложку диска зримым напоминанием о том, что все в наших руках, в том числе и смерть. Сильно, эмоционально, зло…и красиво. Заставляет проникнуться интересом и потратить время на внимательное неоднократное прослушивание. Пятый и лучший полноформатник Benighted in Sodom.
Author: Maeror3
Review
Aristocrazia
23.05.2011
Ho già incrociato parecchie volte la creatura di Matron Thorn e l’ho sempre ritenuta un progetto per onanisti del genere, una di quelle band che ti ascolti una volta l’anno e poi posi perché in giro c’è tanto di meglio.
Probabilmente il trend del depressive mi ha eccessivamente urtato, sarà che dopo anni la mia convinzione che uno non possa far uscire duemila release in cinque anni, sapendo che più di un sottobicchiere o poggialibro scapperà fuori, di sicuro è rimasta tale, fatto sta che mi son messo all’ascolto di questo “Reverse Baptism” con lo stesso animo delle altre volte, non aspettandomi nulla in partenza per non rimanerne deluso e rovinare il tutto sin da subito.
E’ l’ennesimo viaggio all’interno della sofferenza, le atmosfere sono sì cupe come in passato ma la visione black sembra si stia spostando sempre più verso lidi tendenzialmente doomici anni Novanta, le cadenze, il sound delle sette tracce racchiuse nel nuovo capitolo attingono da un panorama vicino per alcuni versi allo stile funeral, sono presenti le ridondanze, i riff ciclici, quell’aura che copre una gamma cromatica che va dal grigio obliante al nero, apice della perdizione, aspetti che appaiono più evidenti nel momento in cui le chitarre si rilassano e la voce diviene un semplice contorno annullando quasi la matrice black della prova.
Solitamente dopo un paio di giri nello stereo la noia mi assaliva, il mood frequentemente compatto, monotono e a dir la verità anche poco interessante in più di un’occasione mi spingeva a premere il tasto per buttar fuori il cd, nell’ultimo biennio però sembra che qualcosa sia cambiato, soprattutto nell’incidenza ambientale della musica dei Benighted In Sodom.
E’ questo che rende piacevole il passaggio “on air” di “Reverse Baptism”, per quanto sia minima c’è una sorta di evoluzione di tale aspetto facendo sì che le canzoni assumano una connotazione definita non limitandosi alla solita “nenia” devastante. E’ finalmente equilibrato il rapporto fra decadenza espressa e qualità della prova, certo fra due mesi con la pubblicazione di un altro disco potrei essere smentito ricevendo un piattello adatto solo per i campi da tiro.
Il rischio con questi artisti si nasconde dietro l’angolo, dico solo che un’ora in compagnia di Matron Thorn, che nel migliore dei casi avrebbe ucciso un toro vigoroso dopo due episodi, è stata stavolta un gradito ascolto, soprattutto pezzi come “Chains Of Bliss”, le due parti di cui è composta “Ocean” e la titletrack strumentale possiedono un buon appeal e per giungere alla fine non ho avuto bisogno di rendere frammentario il percorso, altro segno positivo.
“Reverse In Baptism” è comunque un album che solo la ristretta cerchia di fruitori abituali del genere riuscirà magari ad apprezzare in toto, un “only for fanatics”, consiglierei però anche a chi è abituato ad avere in playlist release di stampo doom-estremo una prova di questo lavoro, qualche piacevole dettaglio potrebbe attrarre il vostro interesse.
Author: Mourning
Review
Burning Black
Matron Thorn is a busy man, this being his tenth release in four years along with a number of splits and EPS, as well as one of the biggest names behind the depressive, atmospheric black metal genre. The album carries on in the usual style of melancholy guitar picking combined with ambient doom. The lyrics and vocals are soaked with venomous self-loathing that makes it very mesmerizing. “Chains of Bliss” is hypnotic with droning guitars that carry on at a funeral-marching pace while Thorn’s eerie vocal style makes you feel completely unsettled.
Thorn knows how to play with atmosphere and emotions and breaks through the barriers of normal doom or ambient black metal; he brings in a depressive character that makes you want more. “Try to Forget Us” has a haunting chorus that gets inside your head after a few repetitions, it definitely keeps the listener hooked and his vocal style is a more soothing than heard on others.
“Oceans Part 1” has a very spacey quality to it and full of atmosphere, clocking in at a little more than twelve minutes it might be hard to stay tuned in to it but is worth your while. Thorn’s savage vocals compliment the echoing guitar work as it rolls into more of a pummeling rhythm, as the same holds true for “Oceans Part II”. The instrumental closer and titletrack keeps you in a hypnotic as it changes with rhythm and speed it has fetching hooks that is appealing to the ears and imagination.
Fans of this genre while appreciate “Reverse Baptism”, the lyrics and songwriting is really well done and varies enough that will capture your attention and keep hold from beginning to end.
Author: KW
Review
Doommantia
7.5/10
29.04.2011
Matron Thorn – the man behind Benighted In Sodom is one of the prolific musicians in the depressive black metal scene, this album ‘Reverse Baptism’ is his 10th full-length album in 4 years and then there is many splits and EP’s also recorded in the last 4 years. Actually he records so often, it is almost impossible to keep up with what he is doing. Quantity usually means lack of quality but not in this case. The albums have always maintained a consistent quality and while some are better than others, this man has never released anything average. Also usually these one-man black doom projects are hurt by poor production values but yet again, the production on Benighted In Sodom has always been pretty good.
The latest album, ‘Reverse Baptism’ has no surprises, it carries on with the same sound and style as their other albums. The ethereal atmospheric approach that has become the bands trademark is here again, as is the lyrical themes of self-loathing and hatred. Musically it is still black metal mixed with ambient Doom but there is perhaps a bit more melody this time around. How the hardcore black-metallers will react to this will be interesting but those of you with a open-mind should find most of this album mesmerizing in a depressing kind of way. Benighted In Sodom is a little different from most in this genre of music, the almost soothing black metal at times sounds out-of-place with the ugly vocals but when it works, it is very hypnotic.
There is no real standout tracks on the album but there is also no overly weak tracks either. The two-part Ocean is a little hard to take though at a combined playing time of 24 minutes but apart from that, the album is an easy recording to get through. There is some ugly, menacing doom riffing with the odd serving of blast-beats which usually hurts the atmosphere more than anything else on the album. This is a band that will most likely stay obscure forever which is a shame but I can understand how most people wont hear the beauty in Matron Thorn’s work. Of course black metal heads will say, it’s too doomy and doom-heads will say it is too black metal but personally I find the style intriguing. ‘Hybrid Parasite Evangelistica’ for my money still remains this bands finest work as this album doesn’t quite reach the standard set by that disc but it still blows away most other black/doom crossover acts…
Author: Ed
Review
Lords of Metal
8.1/10
In de afgelopen paar jaar heeft het Amerikaanse Benighted In Sodom een belachelijke hoeveelheid albums, ep’s en splits uitgebracht, maar op een of andere manier heeft er slechts één hiervan tot nu toe zijn weg gevonden naar de bureaus hier bij Lords Of Metal. ‘Hybrid Parasite Evangelistica’ was eigenlijk best een fatsoenlijke plaat met slechts kleine punten van kritiek. Nu hebben we ‘Reverse Baptism’ te onderzoeken. Ik ben blij om te zien dat Benighted In Sodom zich sindsdien heeft verbeterd. De muziek is nog steeds depressief als de hel, maar met een meer psychedelisch gevoel over zich. Ook het doom metalgedeelte is toegenomen. De doom en psychedelische invloeden gecombineerd zorgen ervoor dat de muziek onmiddellijk doet denken aan Esoteric. Dit samen met de basis van Burzum / Shining-stijl black metal creëert een intens sfeervolle ervaring, waar niet een hele hoop bands toe in staat zijn. ‘Reverse Baptism’’ is een zeer goede plaat die mensen geïnteresseerd in depressieve black/doom metal op zijn minst even een luisterbeurt moet gunnen.
Author: Roel de Haan
Review
Pavillon 666
5.5/10
30.05.2011
Benighted in sodom est un « one-man band » américain (Fort Lauderdale en Floride, pour être précis), fondé par Matron Thorn en 2004.
Benighted in Sodom fait partie des héritiers de Xasthur, Leviathan ou autre Wolves in the throne room.
Bref, la scène américaine, connue pour être malsaine, et relativement dépressive.
A noter tout de même que ce cher Thorn dispose d’un rythme de production de CD infernal (6 albums produits en 2010, dont celui-çi !).
Dans la plus pure veine du black dit dépressif, nous avons droit à une pochette bleue turquoise, avec en fond… devinez quoi ? Un suicidé…
Quelques lames de rasoirs ornent également le tout.
A l’intérieur du livret, nous avons les paroles qui sont classiques pour le style et quelques photos de personnes qui posent avec leurs révolvers, à la façon des jeunes hommes qui ont perpétués par exemple le massacre du lycée de Colombine.
Ce genre de pochette me laisse pour ma part toujours un petit sourire, lié au ridicule de l’imagerie du black dit dépressif…
On adhérera ou pas au concept paroles/graphisme.
Musicalement, l’album commence comme tout album de black purement dépressif par quelques notes de guitares claires… Qui ensuite seront saturées, et tournerons en boucles pendant longtemps.
Avec un résumé de ce style, vous allez forcément vous dire que « Le chroniqueur n’aime pas trop le black dépressif. »
Hé bien détrompez-vous, j’apprécie des groupes comme Shining, Lifelover, Beatrik ou Xasthur.
Simplement, on remarque ici, un manque crucial d’inspiration. Les riffs sont simplistes mais pas hypnotiques comme pourrait le faire un Burzum.
Si Burzum (ou autre groupe d’ailleurs) livre avec un simple riff, une sensation d’être pris dans la musique, Benighted in Sodom lance lui des riffs médiocres sur 8 minutes, ce qui au final, ennuie profondément l’auditeur.
A part si l’on se « concentre » sur l’album un soir de pluie, il est très dur de rentrer dans cet album, et ce à cause simplement du fait que les riffs sont peu recherchés, et pas assez mélodiques.
Au niveau des autres instruments, peu de folies.
Basse qui ne sert qu’a arrondir les angles, batterie-métronome….
Ceci dit, tout ça correspond bien au style pratiqué. Pas d’objections donc.
Néanmoins, il est sûr que le groupe a un potentiel (l’écoute de l’album Plateau E : The Harrowing, qui précède ce Reverse Baptism, m’avait parue nettement plus convaincante), et on retrouve dans cet opus quelques titres bien ficelés comme « Chain of Bliss » ou le duo « Ocean pt. 1 et 2 ».
En bref, 60 minutes, c’est juste un peu trop long pour ce « Reverse Baptism ».
Il est également possible qu’a force d’enchainer les productions à un rythme de folie, Matron Thorn manque un peu d’inspiration.
Un disque à écouter avant d’acheter, et de se lancer, si coup de cœur il y a, dans la discographie de Benighted in Sodom.
Author: Ma2x
Review
Kronosmortus
8/10
04.06.2011
Life is not good, turning against ourselves and the humanity is good – while listening to the album we almost accept this declaration, but be aware don’t let it consume you. The booklet shows us youngsters initiating school shooting affray due to their deranged minds which ended up in suicide. The album doesn’t want to administer justice, it purely analyzes the human soul.
Matron Thorn úgy látszik nem tud pihenni (ami nekünk persze nagyon kedvez), szinte minden energiáját a Benighted In Sodom névre keresztelt formációba fekteti. Függetlenül attól, hogy nemrég megalapította az Ævangelist-et, ontja magából a lemezeket, termékenysége már-már a Drowning The Light légiósával vetekszik. Lemezei létezésünk negatív oldalát boncolgatják, eddigi anyagai alapján nagyon hatásosan.
A Reverse Baptism, mint ahogy maga a kifejezés is sugallja, a keresztség/keresztelés ellenkezője, megfordítása. A dalszövegekben nagyon mély érzések bújnak meg, érdemes elolvasni őket, a poézis határvonalát súrolják. Zeneileg leginkább a Dismal Ethereality. Stellar Celestial Void albumra emlékeztet, az egész albumot átáztatja a depresszív, szuicid jelleg. Ezen hatásoknak még jobban hangot adva rock és ambient hatások is bekerültek a repertoárba, ami még tartalmasabbá teszi a koncepciót. Nem mennék végig a számlistán, inkább kiemelem a legjobbakat (persze ez nem jelenti azt, hogy a többi pocsék lenne, ellenkezőleg). A „Try To Forget Us” c. szám tiszta énekével kis változatosságot hoz, a cím egyébként a 8mm c. film egyik mondatából származik. Aminek a legjobban örültem, hogy az Ocean pt.1 és pt.2 is helyet kapott a lemezen, hiszen ezek a nóták egy tavaly megjelent EP darabjai, ami szinte beszerezhetetlen. Nem mellékesen ez a két leghatásosabb dal, az utolsó, címadó tétel pedig egyszerre brutális, kegyetlen, de érzékiséggel túltöltekező darab – nagyon fogós témákkal. „Slágergyanús” nótáról – underground formáció lévén – ugyebár szó sincs, de többször előfordult, hogy valamelyik dal dúdolgatásán kaptam magam. A dalok kellően koszos, kopottas hangzással rendelkeznek, de éppen ezért megvan benne az a szépség, ami ambivalenssé teszi az egész koncepciót – igazi mester ebből a szempontból ez a Matron gyerek.
Ha valaki követni szeretné a most már két személyessé duzzadt zenekart (és persze a rengeteg vendégzenészt, akik közreműködtek), annak nincs megállás: május végén ismét egy nagylemezzel álltak elő, júniusban pedig egy kislemez fog napvilágot látni.
Author: mentalwarfare
Review
Mtuk Metal Zine
Damn, this guy works fast. Back in October 2010 I reviewed the album Hybrid Parasite Evangelistica. Since then, Benighted In Sodom, aka Matron Thorn, has released a further 4 albums, 4 EPs and a compilation. Does he ever actually sleep, shit, or breathe for that matter? This was actually released on March 31st 2011, and can not quite even be regarded as the latest album having put out another one in May…oof my head is spinning. What is a little odd is the fact that some of his albums are being released via Russian label BadMoodMan music, while the majority seem to be self-released. Anyway, I am sometimes critical of bands that release albums with such great frequency; even those that put them out on a 12-monthly basis tend to quickly become stale and run out of ideas because they don’t allow themselves time to develop and grow and just regurgitate the same old shit in an increasingly diluted fashion. It is slightly difficult for me to comment regarding BIS as I am a relative newcomer to the band and this is only their second offering I have heard. The evidence in front of me certainly tells me that they are far from watered down and lacking in ideas, however perhaps hearing a new album by them every other month would make me bore of them rather quickly. The good point I do have to make here however is that the music is very clearly a work of passion for the music rather than churning them out for the sake of making a record label big bucks, and so respect to Mr. Thorn.
The sound is instantly recognisable having heard the band before and there is definitely something quite distinct about their brand of misery. ‘Sweetness Depraved’ sweeps in with an aura of intrigue, shrouded within a dark mysterious veil of mist. The bass is notably making itself heard from the murky depths, while soon enough the guitars burst to life hacking into things with a really callous tone heaped in distortion and playing out in a slow-paced melancholic manner. There’s a real sense of desperation especially in the harsh vocal rasps which are backed up with really quite beautiful melodies that sweep from moments of amplified intensity to melancholic reflection. Things maunder into ‘Chains Of Bliss’, evoking a feeling of deep despair through its hypnotic guitars and intense drums. They have a really unique ambience to their sound the way things suddenly become very muffled and fade into the distance. At times there’s a spaced-out sense of vagueness and uncertainty while the guitars work simultaneously on surrounding the senses with a feeling of comforting warmth and a hypnotic chill.
I really love the clean Gothic vocals on ‘Try To Forget Us’; they add something a bit different to their sound and reminds me quite a bit of code here. Musically this is just very languid and calm and melancholic playing out at a steady pace that I find very captivating. The melody segues quite flawlessly into ‘Flauros’ merely quickening the pace allowing the guitars to really grate against the speakers while the vocals are equally jarring as they emit a tortured, callous rasp that can only come from the bleakest, most hollow and joyless of souls. There is a strong sense of melody behind this track and it is far from aimless, senseless noise. This is an album to listen to when you are in the mood to be reflective and want something consolingly depressive. It’s a really strong effort and I prefer it to the last album of BIS that I reviewed. There is something rather transcendental, airy and vague to their overall sound that appeals to me as much as the oppressive guitar tones; definitely not one to set the mood for a party but for fans of depressive black metal this is a band you need to check out.
Author: Luci Herbert
Review
The Pit of the Damned
7.5/10
03.07.2011
Atmosfere decadenti che inneggiano a temi magico surreali per questo ottimo lavoro dei Benighted in Sodom. Monumento ermetico dall’aura enigmatica che della vacuità del titolo riprende lo stile per dedicare due intere canzoni ad un fantomatico Ocean (ascoltandole attentamente sono sempre più convinto si tratti di una metafora dell’infinito, più che dell’oceano materiale vero e proprio), dalla modica durata di dodici minuti ciascuna. Le conoscenze di un retroterra magico si appagano nella mefistofelica “Flauros”, traccia intitolata ad un demone multiforme che i trattati del settore indicano come rappresentante per eccellenza di una potenza incontrollata. Aneddoti riportano anche la scelleratezza di Crowley, che osò invocare la natura di questo demone rimanendo comodamente seduto nel cerchio d’invocazione. Che tutto questo non sia un caso lo testimonia la canzone stessa, unica nel suo genere all’interno dell’album: è la sola traccia ad iniziare con una batteria lanciata a tutta velocità, evidenziando la capacità di una band prevalentemente doom ad affrontare squarci di ballate black. Interessante l’accostamento di voci pulite a screaming, inserite al momento giusto nella fasi di ‘rilascio’ delle tracce per evitare una monotona ripetizione dello stesso tema. Decisamente un ottimo album, che grazie all’equilibrio di andamenti lenti e veloci non stanca l’attenzione del pubblico (ovviamente di nicchia). Mancano tuttavia quegli arpeggi hopeless tipici del doom, motivi firma di un genere slow che fa delle atmosfere ignote il proprio cavallo di battaglia. Manca anche la viscerale violenza del black più puro, poiché altre appaiono essere le ricerche stilistiche dei Benighted. Ho apprezzato particolarmente i suoni di chitarra che si sviluppano in una sorta di trance onnipresente, quasi fossero liquidi. Pur essendo riusciti (loro) nell’intento di creare un’opera degna di questo nome, non sono riuscito (io) a trovare quel piccolo particolare che rende questo gruppo unico nel panorama a cui appartiene. È tuttavia innegabile che sanno quello che fanno. Flauros non lo conoscono in molti.
Author: Damiano Benato
Review
Metal Revolution
7.7/10
18.08.2011
I thought I knew Benighted In Sodom, but their latest material is not what I’ve expected to hear. This American band has released many (un)inspiring albums and different kind of materials during the recent years.
Reverse Baptism is their latest opus containing seven depressive and melancholic tracks. However, their music has even more to it than just depressive mood; it is a piece of psychedelic and atmospheric, dark & doom metal. The atmosphere surrounding this record is rather captivating and giving an extra dimension to their music.
At times I found the production to be kind of unclear and disturbing, but it is on a minor scale. Their song-writing skills on the other hand are rather superb and they seem like a very mature and confident band. The final result of Reverse Baptism is convincing and I can recommend it for fans of dark and depressive black/doom metal, and those into Burzum, Shining, Esoteric etc.
Author: bato
Review
Metal Review
6/10
24.08.2011
Not long ago one of my esteemed colleagues (that would be His Royal Danhammer of House Obstkrieg, First of His Name) reviewed an album that he could honestly recognize the quality of, but just couldn’t find a way to like. Well what we’ve got here is kinda the opposite. Reverse Baptism by Benighted in Sodom is an album I quite enjoy, particularly as an eerie background, but I’m just not sure whether it’s really any good or not. (This would be your cue to keep reading and not just rely on that score, because it barely tells the story.)
Stationed in sunny Ft. Lauderdale, Benighted in Sodom is about the last thing you’d expect to come out of South Florida. This is extremely somber and slow blackened music from the mind of Matron Thorn, a former member of Germany’s Bethlehem. Since 2007, Thorn has crafted a whopping 11 full-lengths, 8 EPs, and 5 splits all under the Benighted in Sodom name. This insanely prolific output typically suggests one of two things: the kind of creative genius that can’t help but pour out original music at a staggering rate (think Frank Zappa from about ’66 to ’74), or someone squeezing the most juice out of a minimal amount of ideas. While I can’t speak for the rest of Thorn’s catalog, the case on Reverse Baptism is certainly the latter, but this will only be a problem based on your particular tastes.
To put things simply, Reverse Baptism is an atmospheric black metal album played with a funeral doom mentality. There is a strong urge to just call it a straight merging of the styles, but there really aren’t any identifiable doom riffs here, just that bleak funereal aura. This is especially true when comparing the album to the minimalism of bands such as Catacombs, who work heaviness through the careful employment of menacing repetition.
This repetition is the cornerstone of Reverse Baptism. Each of these seven songs – only two of which come in at under seven minutes – are comprised of only a few musical themes each, typically very simple minor key chord progressions. These themes are repeated in various ways – clean guitars, distorted guitars, tremolo riffs – and sometimes layered with blast beats, but the underlying slow melodies nearly always remain constant. The resulting songs typically grow gradually from what might be dubbed “blackened elevator music” into something similar to what An Autumn for Crippled Children pulls off—a softer, trebly delivery, even during the peaks. However, the vast majority of the album spends its time with the former, dwelling in haunting atmospherics rather than applying any real force.
The good and bad of Reverse Baptism thusly come from the same source: the repetition. Each haunting track is built on repetition, while the individual songs themselves are basically copies of each other. Opener “Sweetness Depraved” is constructed in largely the same manner as the closing title track, and although both are effective in their own right, by the time the latter comes around the entire affair has long sounded exactly the same. The only noticeable changes are in “Ocean II,” when the dissonances are eschewed for brighter tones, and the goth-tinged “Try to Forget Us.” The latter sounds like Benighted in Sodom doing suicide rock, with Thorn delivering his vocals in a croon quite similar to the clean vocals of Paul Kuhr (Novembers Doom).
Even these slight variations can’t help Reverse Baptism from being incredibly monotonous, but as stated at the beginning of this review, I enjoy this album. It’s almost inexplicable, as the vast majority of you will likely find it to be a monstrous bore. This is simplistic, atmospheric music being played simplistically and atmospherically, and it goes on as such for just under an hour. As a holistic album it will not hold your attention, but as a ghostly and eerie background it can be quite effective. As such it garners neither a true tip of the cap nor an outright wagging of the shame finger, but rather a nudge to give Benighted in Sodom an ear if any of the above enticed you.
Author: Zach Duvall
Review
Hardsounds
7.5/10
30.04.2011
Decimo disco in studio per questo folle artista americano che di tanto in tanto preferisce coinvolgere alcuni artisti per registrare i suoi dischi. ‘Reverse Baptism’ rappresenta l’eccezione, il lavoro in cui è il solo a occuparsi di tutti gli strumenti, dei testi e della voce. Nei 60 minuti che lo compongono sono arpeggi e sfuriate improvvise a farla da padrone, con atmosfere lugubri e forse un po’ troppo annacquate. A spezzare l’atmosfera che va leggermente per le lunghe delle prime due tracce ci pensa “Try To Forget Us”, dal tono più elettrico ed accompagnata da un arrangiamento più accattivante. In ‘Reverse Baptism’ troviamo anche due brani che han composto l’EP precedente dal titolo omonimo, e che non aggiungono nulla di nuovo. Benighted In Sodom è un ottimo progetto, ma c’è bisogno di variare. Questa voglia di pubblicare dischi a dismisura va anche bene, anche perché conoscendo gli altri posso affermare che non è uno di quegli artisti che esce sempre con cd dalla dubbia qualità. Spero solo che in futuro affini meglio i suoi riff, rendendoli più dinamici con qualche accorgimento e soluzione più particolare. Che colpisca, non che ritorni sempre punto e a capo (difetto di questo full).
Author: Davide Montoro
Review
Evilized
“Matron Thron”, Kopf hinter BENIGHTED IN SODOM kann sich, angesichts seiner zahlreichen Tätigkeitsfelder und Veröffentlichungen, wohl kaum über einen Mangel an Beschäftigung beklagen. Allein mit seinem Hauptprojekt veröffentlichte der Künstler seit 2010 fünfzehn Werke, darunter sieben Full-Length-Alben. Zwei dieser Scheiben, namentlich „HYBRID PARASITE EVANGELISTICA“ (2010) und „REVERSE BAPTISM“ (2011), widmet sich diese Abhandlung.
Gähnattacken am laufenden Band
Die offensichtlichste Frage: „Warum gibt es nur ein Review für zwei Veröffentlichungen?“ erschließt sich den aufgeschlossenen Hörer spätestens nach (gerne auch bruchstückhaftem) Konsum beider Werke. „HYBRID PARASITE EVANGELISTICA“ und „REVERSE BAPTISM“ gleichen einander stark. Eine Feststellung die bei näherer Betrachtung des Materials sogar als schlichtweg untertrieben bezeichnet werden kann. Spitz formuliert könnte man vielmehr ohne Weiteres behaupten, dass sämtlich vorhandenes Riffmaterial nahezu identisch ist. Strukturtechnisch verfährt Mastermind Thron ebenfalls nach dem „Einmal- erdacht-,-für-immer-verwendet“-Schema. Die Folge: Gähnattacken am laufenden Band, die bei mehrfachem Konsum der Werke (Anmerkung der Redaktion: Pflichtprogramm für Rezensenten) im Ernstfall zu ausgerenkten Kiefern oder zumindest starken Muskelschmerzen führen.
Alles in allem Rohstoffverschwendung, aber und dies sei angemerkt, auf höherem Niveau. „Matron Thron“ beherrscht sein Handwerk zumindest auf instrumenteller Ebene und hat somit 95% der „kvltigen Vndergrovnd“ Helden etwas voraus – Er verfügt über die Basisfähigkeiten die zur Gründung einer Band von Nöten sind (bzw. sein sollten). Gelingt es Herrn Thron in Zukunft seine Releasewut etwas zu zügeln und Riffmaterial kompositorisch auszuarbeiten besteht aller Grund zur Hoffnung. Die im Jahre 2010 erschienene „LAURA PALMER“ MCD dient hierfür als Anhaltspunkt.
Author: Wolfsblut
Review
Imperiumi
6.5/10
30.06.2011
Benighted in Sodom – tai Ben.zo, kuten yhtyeen nokkamies itse projektiaan lyhentää – on yhdysvaltalainen black metal -tapaus, joka on vuodesta 2007 asti pulauttanut ulos yksitoista täyspitkää levyä, sekä miltei parikymmentä muuta julkaisua. Bedroom black metalia tyypillisimmillään.
Järjestyksessään Reverse Baptism on yhtyeen kymmenes ja – tätä kirjoittaessa – samalla sen toisiksi uusin. Kuten julkaisutahdista voi päätellä, aivan hirveästi itsekritiikkiä tahi materiaalin hiontaa ei tässä tapauksessa harjoiteta, sillä uutta tavaraa tästä luomisvoiman sarvesta tulee kuin Casanovan lemmenkeihään kärjestä konsanaan.
Ehkä hieman yllättävästi Reverse Baptism ei ole mitään luokatonta roskaa. Ei sillä, että jälki olisi mikään suuri taide-elämys tai kirkkaaksi hiottu timanttikaan, mutta tällaisena b-luokan Shiningina meno on ihan siedettävää omassa tunnelmallisessa lokerossaan. Leijailevaa, hämyistä ja varmasti huumeistakin.
Tempo pysyttelee pääasiassa rauhallisena, joskin nopeampiakin hetkiä löytyy. Laulut taas ovat ärhäkkää rääkynää ja sinänsä varsin hyvin onnistuneet. Rumpupuoli onkin sitten se ankein, sillä soundit kuulostavat puuduttavan konemaisilta, joita rummut todennäköisesti ovatkin. Muuten meno on kelvollista, vaan ei kehuttavaa.
Lisää makkarimenoa kaipaaville Benighted in Sodom on ihan oiva sijoituskohde, mutta kaipaako muu maailma lisää tällaisia itsekritiikittömyyden ihmelapsia? Jos vastaus on kyllä, on Reverse Baptism syytä ottaa haltuun.
Author: Serpent
Review
Headbanger
7/10
20.09.2011
А вот еще одни «депрессарики». Американская метал-сцена всегда процветала и была богата на имена, однако известных блэк-коллективов там никогда не водилось, за исключением разве что Judas Iscariot. Обозреваемая в этой рецензии команда Benighted In Sodom существует с 2004 года и за семь лет успела выпустить целых 11 полноформатных альбомов, а также кучу миньонов и сплитов. Многие андерграундные группы могут похвастаться подобной производительностью, но при этом практически в 90% случаев на выходе мы получаем крайне неинтересный материал. Приятно осознавать, что герои этой статьи являются приятным исключением. Перед прослушиванием их нового альбома я взял на себя смелость ознакомиться с парой-тройкой Benighted In Sodom предыдущих опусов и остался крайне удовлетворен услышанным. “Reverse Baptism” особо не отличается от других дисков группы, это все тот же депрессивный, по большей части среднетемповый блэк-метал, исполненный, что называется, со знанием дела. И не стоит упрекать музыкантов в излишней простоте материала и повторяемости. Ведь они не стремятся к коммерческому успеху и не претендуют на контракт с Nuclear Blast. Они делают то, что им нравится, и получается это у них довольно неплохо. 60 минут мрачной и тоскливой музыки – то, что надо для вечера в дождливую осеннюю погоду, когда хочется отвлечься от насущных хлопот и взгрустнуть как следует.
Author: Михаил “IronMike” Шаталин
Review
Heavy Impact
4.5/10
13.09.2011
Benighted in Sodom è una band che ha fatto della prolificità il suo marchio di fabbrica, solo nel 2010 ha pubblicato il biblico numero di 10 dischi, divisi tra Full ed EP. In cinque anni di carriera, tralasciando un paio di split e di compilation arriviamo alla cifra di 25 album, disco più disco meno.
Il gruppo in realtà è un duo e sembra essersi fatto carico di comunicare tutta la sofferenza esistente nel mondo, il loro è un black metal di stampo depressive che in passato ha sempre puntato ad annientare l’ascoltatore con la sua “violenza” e “virulenza”, aggettivi che comunque sono troppo grossi per essere adatti ad una musica fin troppo banale e ripetitiva.
Ovviamente le colpe della band stanno nel fatto che non hanno ben capito che non bisogna incidere i primi tre accordi che suonano bene e urlarci sopra. Decisamente no. Il rischio di stancare è molto alto.
“Reverse Baptism” è il primo full del 2011 (fino ad ora nell anno corrente ne sono stati rilasciati ben quattro, includendo anche gli EP) è la formula tutto sommato è la stessa, ma con ampi margini di rinnovamento e di “miglioramento”. Rispetto alle passate produzioni, fin troppo esagerate, qui si registra un calo dell’ impeto annichilente, verso una maggiore riflessività dal punto di vista musicale; i ritmi non hanno alcun timore a prendersi pause e a rallentare, anche precipitosamente.
Abbandonando dunque quell’ irresponsabile voglia di spaccare tutto, i Benighted in Sodom sembra quasi che almeno dal punto di vista della composizione vogliano dimostrare di esser maturati, ma altrettanto non si può dire dei testi che comunque vengono scritti seguendo quasi una corrente anti-esistenzialista.
Purtroppo la band di Fort Lauderdale nonostante questi passi in avanti non riesce a confezionare un prodotto che sia un’ unità, ma ciò che può suscitare interesse (seppur veramente poco) non è altro che una manciata di secondi a brano, cosa che però è valida soltanto se rimaniamo all’ interno della discografia della band perché in giro c’è di meglio. Molto meglio. Per il resto rimane comunque un disco mediocre e tutto sommato noioso e poco originale.
Author: Andrea Minucci
Review
13 Brat
11.09.2011
Kako bi zvenel bend, ki ga ne moremo uvrstiti niti med black metal, niti med funeral doom? Verjetno bi zvok floridskega projekta Benighted In Sodom kar ustrezal tej neopredeljeni množici. Projekt je sad nekdanjega člana nemške zasedbe Betlehem, ki jo poznamo predvsem po zamorjenem, temačnem metalu. Sami sebe so opredelili kot dark metal, kar na srečo nima veliko veze z gothic metalom. Internet je razkril, da ima projekt že kar zajetno diskografijo. Vendar dajmo pozornost temu letošnjemu izdelku. Zvok albuma temelji na ponavljanju atmosferičnih vzorcev. V prvem komadu se najprej srečamo z dolgim akustičnim uvodom, nato sledi distorzija kitar in brutalnost vokala. ki pa jo kasneje zopet prekine vrnitev k ponovitvi akustičnega dela. Bobni so ali počasno doomerski ali pa nabijajoči v bolj klasičnem black metal stilu. Podobno prehajajo razpoloženja tudi na preostalem delu albuma. Manjše presenečenje je komad Try to Forget Us, ki zveni vsaj v vokalnem delu podobno Tiamat. Podobnost komadov nikakor ni moteča, kljub repetitivnosti oz. mogoče prav zaradi tega je album uspel zgraditi določeno glasbeno atmosfero. Ura temačne godbe za temačne duše. Ambientalnost same glasbe pa omogoča, da lahko ob poslušanju še pripravljamo krvave vegan zrezke ali skvačkamo Burzum pulover. Za preveriti vsaj del zajetne diskografije preden bo naslednje leto konec sveta.
Author: Marko
Review
Zero Tolerance
3.5/6
While some may find it strange to discover an American-based outfit here on Solitude, Florida’s Benighted In Sodom actually fit the roster quite well with their existential, progressive-sounding black metal. Reverse Baptism is the tenth (!!!) LP from this highly
prolific duo — not even counting the seven additional EPs to their credit – and is a surprisingly enjoyable slab of Stateside blasphemy, taking their main stylistic cues from Neige’s work in Alcest, Amesoeurs and Peste Noire. Not bad at all.
Review
Heathen Harvest
3/5
01.10.2011
Shouldn’t reverse baptism be written msitpab? Msitpab (hint: write the word Baptism in reverse) makes as much sense as the fact a 22-year old, anorexic, nail-polished, lipstick smeared, effeminately looking Goth musician, with a yield of a couple of album or more per year, is trying to teach us about the meaning of pain, suffering and hurt. Ha! The nerve!
Luckily for him, his music is his redeeming tool; his excuse for his outrageous behavior; the absolute contrast to his physical appearance. His music is good for what it is, and yet leaves much to be desired, especially in the authenticity department.
Benighted In Sodom redefines the old saying: do not judge a book by its cover. And indeed, when judged in the most objective manner, Reverse Baptism has its sex appeal; it flirts with melancholic rock, with doom and black metal; it is highly melodic and owns a distinctive sound: a grainy, cold, almost industrial tinge. The vocals are ballsy enough (anyone sees the irony?), the riffs simple yet adequate for this kind of repetitive, hypnosis-inducing melancholia.
However, the rhythm section is a poor excuse for drum-kit imitation. The hideously sounding programmed drums simply kill the music; the few blasts are misplaced and ridiculous; the musical spolia is being used and re-used to death; it’s almost like listening to the very same riff repeatedly played in loops, being the fundamental substructure of Benighted In Sodom’s music.
But what is left other than these endless repetitive riffs, anyway? Not much. If you remove them, you are almost left with an empty shell, a scaffold; the music sounds as if it only imitates music, and in turn, imitates life and life’s pains with no authenticity or real empathy; as if it is only the prelude for the real thing – the real thing that never arrives.
So yes, a couple of razor blades are depicted on the album’s cover, being part of the band’s logo. You know, the old school type of razors, the ones our fathers and grandfathers used; the kind which is also the professional wrist cutters’ weapon of choice.
That being said, the existential futility and depravity that is conveyed via the songs, the melancholic facade and even the razor blade representation cannot shake off the feeling this is all a charade; a fake musical effort that deals with plastic feelings and artificial pain. Even if you disregard for a moment the young age of the musician behind this project, from whom we’re supposed to learn the essence of pain, even then the music does not compensate for this pretentious aspiration. It’s as if the musician had been exhausted of ideas (mind you this is the band’s 10th full-length album in seven years of existence and god only knows how many demos, EP’s and compilations have been recorded prior to Reverse Baptism), exhausted of passion for his music, or both.
But even all the passion in the world cannot substitute life’s experience; its ugliness as well as its endless exquisite beauty. Those who lived know. How can they take a project such as Benighted In Sodom seriously? You tell me…Go eat your morning cereals, kid, and come back in fifteen years with some real pain, will you?
Author: Chaim
Review
Friedhof Magazine
3.75/10
03.10.2011
Una media de tres a cinco discos por año, innumerables EP’s, Splits y recopilatorios, y haciendo el balance salen veintinueve obras desde 2004. ¿Qué conclusión sacáis? Éste tío se aburre mucho, o tiene mucho tiempo libre, o se cayó en la marmita de la hipercreatividad cuando era pequeño, vaya usted a saber. El disco que ahora nos ocupa ha sido editado en marzo de este año, y dado que el penúltimo lo sacó el 31 de diciembre de 2010, se ha tomado la friolera de tres meses (3!) para grabar y sacar otro. Si tenemos en cuenta sesenta minutos de duración, eso son… mmm… veinte minutos al mes, y cero coma seis seis seis periódico minutos al día, cero coma cero cero dos siete siete periódico a la hora, y si nos adentramos un poco más en el tenebroso mundo de el álgebra y las ecuaciones cuánticas, veremos en el resultado que el señor Matron Thorn avanza al espeluznante ritmo de 0’0046 álbumes por hora, sin contar horas de sueño, dietas, desplazamientos, bolos varios con grupos de Suicidal varios, veinte minutos cada seis horas dedicados al tabaco/masturbación/tomarse un cortado, venga, contamos que en una jornada laboral normalita de ocho horas (fines de semana fiesta) el menda hace 0’015 álbumes. ¿Que por qué estoy soltando todas estas chorradas? Bueno, hay que rellenar espacio cuando no se tiene nada especial que decir sobre una obra, ¿no? Porque efectivamente, poco hay que destacar sobre “Reverse Baptism”. Otro álbum típico de Depressive/Suicidal/Atmospheric Black Metal, con una producción muy decente aunque demasiado clínica, riffs de trémolo más acordes desgranados y arpegios lentos, voz torturada, base rítmica sin demasiados detalles aunque cumpliendo su función, habituales letras de existencialismo negativo, muerte, depresión, negrura y un largo etcétera. Si queréis que concrete un poquito más, diré que tira más hacia Shining y Bethlehem que hacia Xhasthur, pero ya está. Si, es cierto que en determinados momentos hay alguna melodía medianamente agradable, algún paraje interesante, pero señores, esto ya está más que visto. Un disco de relleno para completistas y frikis.
Author: Schepsel