RAVEN WOODS — Enfeebling the Throne (review)

RAVEN WOODS — Enfeebling the Throne album cover Album · 2011 · Death Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
J-Man
As one of Turkey's few extreme metal exports, Ankara-based outfit Ravenwoods have carried the country's flag since their formation back in 1998. With their second full-length album, Enfeebling the Throne, the band not only offers something unique to the Turkish metal scene, but also to the metal scene at large. Ravenwood's blend of various sub-genres of death metal and black metal, as well as occasional acoustic folk sections, makes their sound stand out as something unique in the crowded extreme metal climate. Enfeebling the Throne does feel a bit incoherent and conventional at times, but it's generally an impressive effort well-worth the attention of any death metal fan.

Enfeebling the Throne's Middle Eastern-tinged blackened death metal style does nod in the direction of Nile and Behemoth, although I wouldn't consider Ravenwoods a clone by any stretch. The band does have their own sound, even if they do wear their influences proudly on their sleeves. Ravenwoods's genre-blending concoction is executed by solid compositions and terrific musicianship, especially in the drum department. Most of the songs here are quite memorable, even if they may feel a tad incoherent and occasionally formulaic. A bit more consistency in terms of songwriting quality would've been greatly beneficial to Enfeebling the Throne. As previously mentioned, the musicians that make up Ravenwoods are an absolute blast to listen to. These guys are professionals who know their craft well, and listening to the way the tasteful riffs, frantic drumwork, and brutal vocals meld together is terrific.

Although Enfeebling the Throne is not a flawless album - the genre hopping occasionally lacks coherency and the songwriting does have a definite formula - it's generally a very strong and highly enjoyable listen. Ravenwoods are a band with plenty of promise, and most of that potential is lived up to on Enfeebling the Throne. People in search of something a bit different from the average death metal album will find plenty to love here. 3.5 stars are well-deserved.
Share this review
more

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Metal Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

MMA TOP 5 Metal ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
Master of Puppets Thrash Metal
METALLICA
Buy this album from our partners
Paranoid Heavy Metal
BLACK SABBATH
Buy this album from our partners
Moving Pictures Hard Rock
RUSH
Buy this album from our partners
Powerslave NWoBHM
IRON MAIDEN
Buy this album from our partners
Rising Heavy Metal
RAINBOW
Buy this album from our partners

New Metal Artists

New Metal Releases

Antibeauty Hardcore Punk
SNOWING IN PERU
Buy this album from MMA partners
Mana Earth Hardcore Punk
SNOWING IN PERU
Buy this album from MMA partners
Intimate Isolation Hardcore Punk
GOOD FALL
Buy this album from MMA partners
Dark Future Sludge Metal
PAIN CHEMISTRY
Buy this album from MMA partners
Violent Delights Hardcore Punk
GALLEONS
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Metal Online Videos

Galleons - Electric Emotions
GALLEONS
Bosh66· 17 hours ago
Galleons - Elsewhere (Official Lyric Video)
GALLEONS
Bosh66· 17 hours ago
Galleons - Neon Dreams (Official Lyric Video)
GALLEONS
Bosh66· 17 hours ago
Galleons - I Travel East As Fievel Goes West Pt. 1 - Official Lyric Video
GALLEONS
Bosh66· 17 hours ago
FREEHOWLING - SCARS FT. AARON MATTS (TEN56.) [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]
FREEHOWLING
Bosh66· 18 hours ago
More videos

New MMA Metal Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Metal News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed