NECROPHOBIC — Dawn of the Damned (review)

NECROPHOBIC — Dawn of the Damned album cover Album · 2020 · Melodic Black Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
UMUR
"Dawn of the Damned" is the 9th full-length studio album by Swedish melodic black metal/blackened death metal act Necrophobic. The album was released through Century Media Records in October 2020. It´s the successor to "Mark Of The Necrogram" from 2018 and features one lineup change since the predecessor as bassist Alex Friberg has been replaced by Allan Lundholm.

Stylistically "Dawn of the Damned" is unmistakably the sound of Necrophobic and a natural continuation of the preceding releases by the band. The listener is treated to melodic blackened death metal, which sometimes is more black than death, and sometimes visa versa. Lead vocalist Anders Strokirk has a raw blackened snarling type delivery, which is intelligible and powerful. The instrumental part of the music is of high class. The rhythm section is solid and energetic, and the two guitarists deliver sharp melodic tremolo riffs, blistering melodic solos, and when the songs call for it, heavy mid-paced death metal riffing too. Some of the riffs are highly impressive and quite intricate. Listen to the main riff of the title track and tell me if that´s not brilliance incarnate...

...other highlights include "Darkness Be My Guide" and the two closing tracks "The Return of a Long Lost Soul" and "Devil's Spawn Attack". The latter is a speed metal influenced melodic death metal track with Destruction vocalist Schmier guesting on additional vocals.

"Dawn of the Damned" features a raw and powerful sound production, which suits the material well. There is generally a good balance between rawness and detail, which is important for this type of music, with two guitarists delivering harmonies, solos, and intricate riffs. Necrophobic have never released a bad quality album, but not all their releases are equally memorable. "Dawn of the Damned" is definitely in the better end of their discography and a 4 star (80%) rating is deserved.
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Nightfly wrote:
more than 2 years ago
I agree, one of their best, in fact I think it might just be their best.

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