Hyperial - Sceptical Vision

Hyperial are a death metal band from poland with symphonic elements mixed in. Formed in 2006 the group had no trouble picking up Psycho Records as a label after their short, but strong demo. Here, with Sceptical Vision the band hammers away with the brutality of a band like Deicide, but also has lush layers of beauty mixed in, thanks to the synth. The metal part is pretty standard death metal with the usual chugging riffs that break up every once in a while followed by some more power chords with the drum pedal always in 'kick' mode. Vocals are dark and evil, usually staying low, but have some higher pitch layering to them, hence the Deicide comparison. The synth is perhaps the best part though as it adds some very hectic qualities to the music, such as on "Insane" where the music pauses and the synth builds higher and higher before the guitars come crashing back in. Some tracks are more strictly death metal, such as "Metaphor," and the synth is buried amongst the drums and heavier riffs, but listeners can still hear it. The guitars also have plenty of talent and aren't just blast beats throughout the entire tracks or power chords. On "Future Is Your Eternity" there's some great melodic lines near the end of the song that aren't just speed chugs separated by one second pauses.

Sometimes the synth is the only instrument that can be heard, but it is used as a symphonic intro and outro tool more than anything when it comes to tracks like these. "Nemesis" is a great introductory track; onimous and slowly building up while "Genesis" keeps a steady, mournful tone that definitely feels like a closer... but it isn't. There's still one more track to go and it is an interesting choice: Danzig. Known for bluesy, sexy dark rock, it is hard to imagine that a death metal band, with no matter how much synth at their disposal, can make a song sound 'sexy.' Hyperial do a pretty good job at keeping gritty guitar sound of the original while even doing the vocals in the 'underwater' fashion that Danzig is known for. The guitars still hammer away in the usual Hyperial death metal fashion along with the growled vocals, but there's some cleaner backing ones too. While the music doesn't live up to the seductive qualities of Danzig with all the noise crashing around (synth included), the music still sounds great as a death metal remake.

Hyperial are definitely worth checking out if fans enjoy brutal death metal with a limited, well placed amount of synth and interesting lyrics. Best comparisons that can be made is a merge of death metal blasters, Aeon, with the beauty of a band like Trail of Tears (minus the female vocals). Everything here is done with skill and precision, and best of all, it sounds a bit more fresh than what is usually put on the market these days.

  1. Nemesis
  2. Sceptical Mind
  3. Metaphor
  4. Insane
  5. Insane
  6. Carrion
  7. Future Is Your Eternity
  8. Armageddon
  9. Genesis
  10. Belly Of The Beast (Danzig Cover)

Psycho Records
Band: http://www.facebook.com/hyperialmetal
Reviewer: Colin McNamara
May 29, 2010
Next review: Van Canto - Tribe Of Force

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