« Conspiracy of Torture »
Here After Productions
2013
Out of the cold, wintery darkness of Finland comes DESPONDENT SOUL, a juggernaut of a one-man band whose debut album, “Conspiracy of Torture” will certainly make wanton fans’ ears bleed! Creative force, S.J. has done his homework in brutal death stylings with absolutely no remorse or refinement! Often Finland’s Metal exports have garnered the country attention with melodic, highfalutin sounding bands, but DESPONDENT SOUL seeks to break the stereotype.
“Limbo (of Souls and Spirits)” propels the album into familiar territory with resplendent keys and monstrous vocal overdubs only to unleash the REAL beast, “Conspiracy of Torture”, a firm indication of where S.J. creative ideas stem. Here, a claustrophobic wall of fuzz dictates the overall sound as slight orchestral flourishes coincide with brutal death mayhem. It is immediately apparent that a drum machine has been used but the sound isn’t entirely “mechanical”. Deep, vicious growls linger atop a rhythm section that could be brought up slightly higher in the final mix as lead riffs often drown it out. As “Death Was Our Companion” and “The Suffering of Others” march on, the listener is treated to some harrowing riffs and caustic pandemonium not too far removed from the sound /riffs heard on Morbid Angel’s “Altars of Madness” Lp. or Mithras’s aural fury. The riffs are unpredictable and often off-kilter, leaving the listener either completely entranced or seemingly confused. That’s not a bad thing. DESPONDENT SOUL creates an audibility that won’t be understood easily and will require further spins!
The only respite appears on “Children of an Immolated God”, where the tempo is brought down a notch to a more accessible cadence while, “At the Temple of Human Darkness” treats with uncharacteristic acoustic guitar and gloomy ambiance before reaching for the rampaging discord of previous numbers. While Finland boasts many popular bands critically heralded by the press, DESPONDENT SOUL breathe new life in the scene with, “Conspiracy of Torture”, that is anything but catchy, melodic or female-fronted. This is an album seething with hatred and aurally malicious! Fans looking for something off the beaten path that caters to the “brutal death” tradition but takes it up several notches, look no further….
Standout Tracks: “Suffering of Others”, “Children of an Immortal God”, “At the Temple of Human Darkness”
7.5/10
Chris
