In line with the Ebook of Isaiah, a Seraph is an angel that has “six wings: with two he lined his face, and with two he lined his ft, and with two he flew.” In line with the Encyclopedia Britannica, Seraphs are often known as “the burning ones” and are acknowledged because the highest-ranking angels amongst the heavenly hosts. In line with me, these winged warriors function an amazing inspiration for a dying steel band identify, particularly in the event you’re referring to their tragic collapse. Enter Fall of Seraphs, a dying steel quintet hailing from Bordeaux, France boasting a high quality deal with (as I overexplained above), and a keenly-honed, DM sound that additionally incorporates components of tech, thrash and black steel. However does their debut album From Mud to Creation actually wield the uncooked energy essential to harpoon fiery celestials from the sky? Will their DM assault trigger the Heavens to spew forth an unholy torrent of blackened wings and charred feathers, befitting the band’s moniker? Flip the web page in your Good Books, expensive readers, and let’s discover out.
Fall of Seraphs aren’t practically grungy or muddy sufficient to fall in with a number of the swampier sounds of OSDM, nor are they so shiny and over-produced as to be counted amongst the heaps of contemporary tech dying bands. They fall someplace in between, and it’s a spot that works for them. At their most crushing, you’ll hear echoes of bands like Cannibal Corpse and Immolation. However then you definately’re hit by some off-kilter drumming, a boatload of tremolos or a hovering, melodic solo. You’ll be taught quite shortly that whereas Fall of Seraphs aren’t reinventing the wheel, they’re in a position to tinker on the style’s edges in a manner that retains issues fascinating with out sacrificing the heft supplied by good ‘ole dependable dying steel. Add within the album’s transient run time and songs that go for impression with depth as an alternative of breadth, and you’ll depend on From Mud to Creation to depart you mangled and mutilated with loads of time left to name your lawyer and write that disappointing stepson out of your will.
Some bands miss the mark with an over-the-top (and overlong) atmospheric opener. Fortunately, “The Eradication Dogma” is ready to skillfully transition the transient atmospherics right into a maelstrom of crunchy riffs and blast beats by means of an “Among the many Dwelling”-inspired riff. The tune is mighty, techy in components and builds momentum. The primary half of From Mud to Creation is undoubtedly the strongest. From the memorable, jagged riff and monstrous drum and bass on “Mirror of Transcendence,” to the extra thrashy, chuggy components on “Divine’s Lament,” to the blackened, tremolo-happy “Hearth Path of Punishment,” Fall of Seraphs have crafted an album that isn’t afraid of sunshine musical range with out veering off the trail of dying steel endarkenment. Even the penultimate observe “From Mud to Creation,” amidst its personal freneticism, finds time to flirt with extra doomy passages and foreboding atmospherics. This fondness for genre-hopping, coupled with the seamless intertwining of DM gutturals and blackened shrieks maintain From Mud to Creation an fascinating, partaking platter with out sacrificing that important groove that helps such a colossal, seraphim-slaughtering construction.
Fall of Seraphs get lots proper on their debut, however they’ve some work to do within the consistency division. The album’s first half can also be one of the best half, because of the band’s songwriting chops which keep a strong through-line whereas permitting every observe’s distinctive qualities to face on their very own. The again half, whereas additionally killer, additionally has a bit extra filler, culminating within the remaining two songs “From Mud to Creation” and “Brood of Decomposition” sounding virtually like a single tune. Much less of a problem is the combination, which, whereas hardly a deal breaker, sounds a bit too clear for an album that isn’t extra firmly entrenched within the technical dying steel style.
Do Fall of Seraphs ship sufficient of the products to be worthy of their self-imposed title? All these angelic corpses recommend sure. Regardless of some missteps, From Mud to Creation presents each immediacy and brutality whereas leaving room for nuance and intricacy (and bass). Whereas not showing on my most vaunted end-of-year record, these Frenchmen function a great reminder that between the bands caught in an limitless, repetitive rut and people taking part in post-hardcore disso-death jazz grind, there’s the righteous, yeoman’s efforts of a gaggle like Fall of Seraphs. Now, who’s gonna clear up all these bloody feathers?
Score: 3.0/5.0
DR: 9 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: Memento Mori
Web site: fb.com/fallofseraphsofficial
Releases Worldwide: October twenty fourth, 2022
