UMUR
"Let Chaos Prevail" is the third full-length studio album by Finnish death metal act Demigod. The album was independently released in May 2007 but soon saw a label release through Xtreem Music in November 2007. It´s the successor to "Shadow Mechanics" from 2002 and there have been a couple of lineup changes since the predecessor as drummer Seppo Taatila has been replaced by Tuomo Latvala, lead vocalist Ali Leiniö has left and keyboard player Mika Haapasalo has also left.
Although Demigod formed as far back as 1990, they only released some demo/promo material, a split with Necropsy, and their debut full-length studio album "Slumber of Sullen Eyes (1992)" (which is arguably one of the seminal albums from the early 90s Finnish death metal scene) before disbanding in 1994. When they returned to the spotlight with "Shadow Mechanics" (2002) their sound and style had changed significantly adding clean vocals and keyboards, and a technical/progressive edge to their death metal, which were not elements heard on the old school death metal of their early releases.
"Let Chaos Prevail" is however not a continuation of the sound found on "Shadow Mechanics" (2002). Although some elements of that sound remain, it´s not a continuation of their original old school death metal sound either. Stylistically this is technically well played death metal with shouting semi-growling vocals in front. The clean vocals and the keyboard parts of the predecessor are gone, and so are the occasionally odd songwriting ideas. "Let Chaos Prevail" is a consistent release in terms of quality and style.
It´s also a well produced release, featuring a sophisticated, detailed, and clear sounding production, suiting this type of death metal perfectly. I still hear the occasional nod towards latter day Death (the band), but it´s actually the French in Loudblast that I´m mostly reminded of (especially their 1993 "Sublime Dementia" album). Technically well played death metal which isn´t quite tech death (and featuring a lot of thrashy riffs), but still a sophisticated and polished type of death metal. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.