Plague - Portraits Of Mind
OLD SCHOOL. This is the best term that describes perfectly the storm, Plague decided to unleash upon us with this first full length "Portraits Of Mind" of them. It is 2020 and while most of the death metal bands nowadays decide to go a tad more technical, these lads here stay focused on the way death metal was played back in the early 90s. Mostly influenced by the American scene and bands as Monstrosity, Incantation and Morbid Angel but there are definitely shards of the Swedish scene here and there during the entire hearing to be found.
Their music is based mostly on mid-tempo beats that tend to pack tons of groove. Typical but so fitting old school drum beats that find their way binding together swirling riffs, following the late 80s protocol. The riffs themselves are vicious. Sometimes plain and simple and others leaning on the technical side but always aiming to bring out the ferociousness of this era in death metal.
'Intersperce' breaks the silence and after couple of haunted piano chords, the lead following gives you a pretty much good direction of where this album is going to take you. Dark and ungodly atmosphere combined with primitive wrath packed in 5 minutes. Breaks the silence blasted but don't let that fool you. The blast beat here is one of the very few if not the only blast beat you ll come up with, in this first full length from these boys here. Drums might be plain but they can get really technical following the guitars and the bass.
'Portal Into Reality' succeeds the first one with the same wrath the previous one left us. Sometimes vengeful and others technical, but always dark and primitive. Just like it was done back in the day. I would dare to say that even the production, although modern, kind of brings memories of late 80s in mind. Might be the songs maybe that tend to take you there with their constructions and the references the riffs will definitely bring in mind.
And speakin of production "Portraits Of Mind" couldn't get any better. Raw and heavy but on the same time crystal clear. Everything has its own special place in the mix and at the same time they all sound cohesive. A fierce production, fitting for the material these guys present. The awesome artwork from Paolo Girardi makes this release a 'MUST BUY' for every fan of the genre!
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Their music is based mostly on mid-tempo beats that tend to pack tons of groove. Typical but so fitting old school drum beats that find their way binding together swirling riffs, following the late 80s protocol. The riffs themselves are vicious. Sometimes plain and simple and others leaning on the technical side but always aiming to bring out the ferociousness of this era in death metal.
'Intersperce' breaks the silence and after couple of haunted piano chords, the lead following gives you a pretty much good direction of where this album is going to take you. Dark and ungodly atmosphere combined with primitive wrath packed in 5 minutes. Breaks the silence blasted but don't let that fool you. The blast beat here is one of the very few if not the only blast beat you ll come up with, in this first full length from these boys here. Drums might be plain but they can get really technical following the guitars and the bass.
'Portal Into Reality' succeeds the first one with the same wrath the previous one left us. Sometimes vengeful and others technical, but always dark and primitive. Just like it was done back in the day. I would dare to say that even the production, although modern, kind of brings memories of late 80s in mind. Might be the songs maybe that tend to take you there with their constructions and the references the riffs will definitely bring in mind.
And speakin of production "Portraits Of Mind" couldn't get any better. Raw and heavy but on the same time crystal clear. Everything has its own special place in the mix and at the same time they all sound cohesive. A fierce production, fitting for the material these guys present. The awesome artwork from Paolo Girardi makes this release a 'MUST BUY' for every fan of the genre!
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2. Portal Into Reality
3. Pandemic
4. Deranged Madness
5. Cave Of Vectors
6. Shattering The Illusion
7. Mind Control
3. Pandemic
4. Deranged Madness
5. Cave Of Vectors
6. Shattering The Illusion
7. Mind Control
