Cerekloth
« In the Midst of Life We are in Death »
Hells Headbangers Records
2013
Denmark isn’t exactly the first country one thinks of when it comes to « head of the pack » extreme Metal exports, but there have been a handful of bands that have left an indelible mark on the scene. Hatesphere, Konkhra, and Illdisposed all garner reputations for releasing quality albums (ex. Konkhra’s « Spit or Swallow », anyone?). This year marks the release of Cerekloth’s first full length, « In the Midst of Life We are in Death ». Produced by Konkhra vocalist/guitarist, Anders Lundemark, the album is overflowing with crunchy riff after crunchy riff and brandishes them potential leaders of the Danish scene. Too bad the band are currently on « hold », according to Metal-Archives.com.
« In the Midst… » is an album that is bookended by an intro., « Praeludium » and closing number, « The Reapers Instant is Our Eternity », that showcase essentially what the album, as a whole, offers; slow, simple Death Metal with hooks galore! « Born of the Void » continues in the same vein with a sluggish stomp before accelerating to mid-paced fever. Not overly technical by any means, Cerekloth bask in the denseness and weight of « False », era Gorefest and Illdisposed, particularly on « Within the Hollow Crown ». Here, Cerekloth break midway for a bass drum beat accompanied by the main riff that will guarantee a sea of fist pumping when performed live. Definite highlight, « When Outcast Become Kings » should also go over amazingly well live for the same reason.
No slouches when it comes to song writing, Cerekloth do an excellent job of maintaining the status quo for this style of metal. But is it enough? Essentially « In the Midst… » churns out lumbering songs that get heads banging but offer nothing really new. For the opening sequence, one gets the idea of where Celekloth come from and where they wish to go. There’s nothing wrong with that, but for fans looking for a band that push the envelope or contribute something unique, they might want to look elsewhere. For others who like their metal like they enjoy their « meat and potatoes », this is a solid listen!
Standout Tracks: « Within the Hollow Crown », « Halo of Syringes », « When Outcast Become Kings ».
7.5/10
