ALBUM REVIEW: Horrendous – Idol

Here I review the long awaited, incredibly hyped up new album from Death Metallers HORRENDOUS! This album is out on Season Of Mist records on 28th September.

1….Prescience begins the album with some nicely effect riddled guitar playing the creates a unique and strange, futuristic ambience. They couple this with some crashing cymbals that really add some chaos to the otherwise pretty, odd and tranquil opening. A wonderfully different way to start an album.
2. Soothsayer comes into hugely atmospheric Death Metal with tons of melody and technicality. The beautifully orchestrated guitar and bass meets the crazed, unique drums and creates this huge attack. The vocals have a really gut churning and emotive, raw screech to them, I really like how they work with this technically proficient and groovy Death Metal mix. There is a certain unsettling vibe to the music but its convulsive, manic attack is awesomely executed. This is some very esoterically different Death Metal with some almost DSBM hints on the vocals and some very eccentric rhythms. The progressive influences are a cool touch and this certainly makes for some cool, out of this world Metal. Wonderfully played guitar solos really elevate the piece too. Killer!
3. The Idolater starts off with some gorgeous clean guitar work and brilliant bass playing before dropping back into this hypnotic and pulsating groove that was very present in the last track. There is a Voivod like feel to the songwriting but in a clearly more extreme style of music. There is a really bitter melancholy in the vocals that I think sounds really cool but oddly fitted to Death Metal, although working really nicely. The lyrics are enjoyable and well written. The surging forces of technical, huge guitar and bass, intense drums and catatonically dissonant grooves that really hit hard are disorientating yet gorgeously tranquil to really soak in. This is certainly music that needs your undivided attention, that was clear from the beginning of the album. While I am still not very far into this review, I find myself forgetting the outside world, which is a great hallmark of a wonderfully creative album. The lead riffs towards the end coupled with some insanely cool bass are the standout features of this track for me, great work!
4. Golgothan Tongues opens with some super catchy riffs and amazing drum fills. This song has an immediate resemblance to the “Symbolic” era of Death to me, which is certainly a good thing. There are also some really nice upbeat thrashy parts between progressive musical brilliance. This song has a more laid back feel to it in some parts the really accentuate the full on, in your face assault of the faster parts. Keeping the vocals running over the guitar solo was a really cool and not often used piece of the song that you do not hear often. Guitar solos rarely reach the soaring, gorgeous and pristine dynamic that this song has within it, really stunning stuff. The absolutely huge production really works wonders on this piece, although we are only halfway through, I predict this song will be my favourite. In conclusion (for now), another really strong track.
5. Divine Anhedonia begins with some really jazz (rhythmically) infused progressive sounds, there is an epic ambience to it but it is also certainly strange. The kick of the song is certainly very punchy, the technical ability is certainly very impressive from the entire band and the momentum builds and drops a few times which is cool. The more blackened feel of the track is really gruesome and ferocious with some epic vocal work. This track is really odd, unique, creative but crazy as hell, I have to respect the totally original soundscapes they are pulling together here, some fine work. Nice shreds on the guitar really push through the mix beautifully too with excellent use of clean vocals near the end.
6. Devotion (Blood for Ink) kicks in with force, no holds barred and pretty deranged sounding vocals atop brutally yet intricate guitars, thundering slide bass tones and absolutely mad drum work. This is a fine example of how Death Metal can be really technical but in a way that is not obtrusive or spoiling of the actual feel of the track. There is plenty of groove and a super tight modern feel to it but the live flame of Death Metal still burns brightly, while in a less traditional package here. Some lovely, flashy guitar work once more really brings the song to life, not that it lacked life to begin with. The clean guitar sections with crushing drums and stunning clean vocals sounds really great and perfectly deviates from the intensity, allow the tension to regrow and the huge atmosphere to be rekindled and refreshed, without stagnating or overusing any single element. Epic stuff!
7. Threnody… gives us pristine guitars the work as a gorgeously placed and incredibly beautiful interlude in the album, taking simple guitar work and letting it flourish amidst such intense music was a great direction to take before the final song. I really enjoyed this piece of music, it had a really revitalising feel to it. Stunning!
8. Obolus is going to be interesting, I am sure. With the role of closing such a flamboyant and frenzied album I have no prediction where it may take the final journey of the album. There is a more aggressive vibe to the vocals but over plentiful excellent guitar riffs, crushing bass tones and sheerly impressive drums. The cleans add a nice sombre feel to things while really elevating the screamed and tormenting vocals. The lead work is really well put together and this song valiantly seems to be gliding through one more progressive bout into extremity. There is an ever present gracefulness to the music of the band while really down to earth and enjoyable. The riffs about 1/3 of the way in are really catchy, brutal and groovy, excellent work there with a more traditional Death Metal feel to things but not entirely losing touch with the bands proggy nature. The more Decapitated vibes of the mid section are really tight and punchy. Nicely consistent, surging rhythms and hooks are what makes this album so mesmerising to me, this is something I have been trying to work out throughout. The lead work is astounding as per usual on this album. A stellar final performance, ending a spectacular performance very well indeed.

This is some very esoterically creative material for sure. While I think it may be slightly discordant for the average casual Death Metaller, for fans of more progressive and theory infused music this is an absolutely noteworthy gem. There is plenty of groove and brilliant songwriting with catchy hooks and excellent skills utilised. For me this is something I may not be in the mood for daily, but when I am it will really hit the right spots. A really cool and original album featuring plenty of diverse creativity throughout! -7/10