BARREN EARTH — The Devil's Resolve (review)

BARREN EARTH — The Devil's Resolve album cover Album · 2012 · Melodic Death Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
UMUR
"The Devil's Resolve" is the 2nd full-length studio album by Finnish death/doom metal act Barren Earth. The album was released through Peaceville Records in March 2012. Barren Earth features quite a few prolific Finnish musicians like former Amorphis bassist Olli-Pekka Laine, guitarist Sami Yli-Sirniö (Kreator, Waltari) and drummer Marko Tarvonen (Moonsorrow) and that arguably qualifies them to be called a Finnish metal supergroup.

The fact that the band are made up of very seasoned musicians is audible, as everything is delivered with conviction and professionalism. In addition to the "core" death/doom metal sound on the album, there are also a couple of progressive tendencies featured in the music. It´s especially audible in the longer tracks like album opener "Passing of the Crimson Shadows" and "As it is Written". The addition of ethnic folk elements makes me think of Amorphis more than one time during the playing time. A reference which is further enhanced by the clean/growling vocal delivery and the use of 70s influenced organs/keyboards. You can add an Opeth influence to the equation, but that´s only when Barren Earth are most progressive. The tracks are made up of epic heavy riffing and lead themes (both from the guitars and the keyboards) and more atmospheric sections. There is good variation on the album and that provides "The Devil's Resolve" with a longivity factor that not all releases possess.

"The Devil's Resolve" is a heavy and quite intriguing album and the fact that it´s well produced (in the more polished end of the style) and very well performed, are not exactly negatives either. To fans of the style this should be a real treat (just think early- to mid 90s Amorphis meets late 90s/early 00s Opeth and you´re halfway there). A 4 star (80%) rating is deserved.
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