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AZMAVETH - STRONG AS DEATH
BOMBWORKS RECORDS
METAL TO INFINITY
Puerto Rico, ladies en gentlemen... Do you expect pure Black Metal from this area? I didn't... Okay, Black Metal isn't typical Scandinavian anymore and expanded worldwide but Puerto Rico? Do they have any kind of darkness over there, explaining why this kind of music is written? I suppose so and although it is strange to me I find it interesting that Black Metal really is a worldwide phenomenon.
Azmaveth released their debut album in 2004. I'm not at all familiar with the band, not even with Black Metal but this record sounds very good. The opening track 'A Mortal Way Of Life' is, after the short intro, pure and dark, superfast and with howling evil vocals; pure Black Metal... This song knows varied parts and often I have the feeling Azmaveth mixes Black and Death Metal. This mixture and the use of several tempi is present in the entire album. The arrangements in this first song sounds awesome and they are even creating a threatening atmosphere. Some riffs, reminding met to the very early Slayer, are tremendous. As a matter of fact I often felt the same creepy force I feel every time I listen to Slayer’s ''Hell Awaits''. No, Azmaveth doesn't sound like the kings of Thrash but they often bring me in the same mood if you know what I mean...
What I adore on this release are the 'Interludes' Azmaveth is using. These are some acoustic intermezzos, used as intro and played by a fantastic guitar player. It seems these interludes are played on some old record player and they give a creepy effect. I didn't find out who performs them; Azmaveth their self? If they are I bow my head low... I can believe these guys wrote and perform them, especially when I hear some awesome acoustic guitars in the middle of the 'The Dark Lust Of The Rotten Soul' song!
'A Cadaveristic Desire' starts with an intimidating riff on a mid tempo rhythm. De used keyboards are giving me a very frightening feeling; damn this is a dark band! I'm not in particular a fan of those superfast drum sessions with screaming voices but they fit and Azmaveth is skilled enough to deliver the listener enough variation.
Especially when we talk about the guitars we hear great things. The riffs and bass guitar have a very good sound, pure and aggressive. Also the solos show that these Puerto Ricans have talent enough. In 'Stigma From Hell' we even hear clean vocals but not done by singer 'Ancient Prophet'. To be honest this guy owns a good voice.
I suppose most of our readers know I'm not at all specialized in extreme forms of Metal but I'm working on it... I am still ignorant when we talk about Black Metal but I become more and more interested in this kind of music. Azmaveth delivers us a very strong and ultimate dark Black Metal album that fans of the genre should buy blindfolded. My Points: 85/100 (Review by Officer Nice)