STYLE: Hard Music RATING OUR PRODUCT CODE: 151867-22238 LABEL: Facedown FORMAT: CD Album ITEMS: 1
Reviewed by Danny McMartin
Extol are, of course, something of a Christian metal institution and despite line up changes have survived for over two decades. Here the Norwegian death metal veterans are now back with what many regard as their most mature release. Tracks like "Faltering Moves" display intricate guitar solos demonstrating they are not simply an act repeating the same riffs over and over. The brutal echoes of the vocals remain the same, yet on this album sub genres have been manipulated and fused to give enough similarity to earlier works for long term fans and enough surprises to keep them intrigued. "Dawn Of Redemption" is an instrumental which wouldn't find itself astray as part of a horror/thriller soundtrack. "A Give Beyond Human Reach" has many different elements bringing in metal to emo to prog rock to industrial. The band have collaborated with producers who have previously worked with Paradise Lost and Opeth and undoubtedly 'Extol' will keep the respect of the Scandinavian metal scene without any compromise of the band's faith.
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