UMUR
"Infinity Through Purification" is the 4th full-length studio album by US, Tampa, Florida based death metal act Diabolic. The album was released through Olympic Recordings in October 2003. It´s the successor to "Vengeance Ascending" from 2001 and there have been great lineup changes since the predecessor as only guitarist Brian Malone remains from the lineup who recorded "Vengeance Ascending". Original bassist Edwin Webb, who left after the release of the band´s debut full-length studio album "Supreme Evil (1998)", has returned to the fold though, also performing vocals this time around. Guitarist Eric Hersemann and drummer Gaël Barthélemy are also new in the lineup. The three members who left would form the relatively shortlived Unholy Ghost and release the "Torrential Reign" album in 2004.
Stylistically the material on "Infinity Through Purification" is slightly different in style from the first three albums, which all had a very similar sound and style. It´s not a vastly different sounding release to the first three, as we´re still treated to some technically well played death metal music in the old school US vein (in the faster and more brutal end of the spectrum). The material is a bit more adventurous and original sounding than the (close to) Morbid Angel worship on the first three albums, although Morbid Angel is still a heavy influence on the material on "Infinity Through Purification". New drummer Barthélemy adds quite a different sound to the music with some pretty creative drumming (for the style), and Webb has a more "regular" growling vocal style, although he also occasionally uses a higher pitched screaming vocal style. There are other differences too like the occasionally more atmospheric section, a higher number of guitar solos and the slightly more melodic nature of said guitar solos. The lineup changes have definitely had an impact on the band´s sound.
I´m not sure my ears enjoy the guitar tone and the overall sound on "Infinity Through Purification", but that´s my subjective opinion, and objectively it´s a well produced album, featuring a powerful and raw sound, suiting the material well. It´s an extremely hard hitting abrasive release (I would of course expect nothing less from Diabolic) and sometimes the relentless aggression and high energy pace are almost too much, but the above mentioned atmospheric sections and the many well played guitar solos thankfully pull in another and more varied direction. I think I prefer the first three albums over this one, but "Infinity Through Purification" is still a high quality death metal release, and a 3.5 star (70%) rating is fully deserved.