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Review: Spawn of Possession - Noctambulant
Spawn of Possession
www.myspace.com/spawnofpossession
Noctambulant

Label: Neurotic Records
Year released: 2006
Duration: 41:30
Tracks: 10
Genre: Death Metal

Rating:
4.7/5


Review online: July 26, 2006
Reviewed by: Ktb
Readers' Rating
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Rated 3.44/5 (68.8%) (25 Votes)
Review

Second album for the Swedish brutal death metal band Spawn of Possession, which has been getting more and more popular over the years since their debut, and nobody's wondering why. This sophomore release is technical without being braggy, brutal without being redundant and sometimes melodic without being cheesy (just like Kronos, although Kronos are not as technical). After skipping (yes, I skip cheesy intros) a symphonic misleading intro, the band jumps straight into action, with intricate melodies, clean interludes and low vocals. All of this reminds of the latest Psycroptic offering, one may think, but this is technical without showing off. The mix of brutal, technical and subtly melodic metal is something few bands can achieve. Just as the listener thinks things can't get any better, one of the guitarists busts a sweet solo, with a heavy, slowed down riff in the background (just like Aborted's work in "The Inertia"). Repeat this process for about 8 more tracks and you've got Noctambulant. Always pushing the boundaries without being too pushy, the band touches many styles including technical death, brutal death, or just death. Now, as if I haven't said it enough already, what sets this album apart is the fact that it's just not braggy. Sure, some parts sound like your average brutal death metal band, but Spawn of Possession switch genres so many times in each song, it's easy to get lost and forget the use of very little clichés. All 5 musicians deliver a top-notch performance, be it the guitar tone being not too raw nor too soft, or the drummer (and vocalist) delivering one hell of a performance. Sometimes majestic while being rarely symphonic, fascinating and boundary-crossing, Spawn of Possession are the new death metal band to look for in the 21st century. Yes, they're that good.

More about Spawn of Possession...
Review: Incurso (reviewed by Christopher Foley)
Review: Noctambulant (reviewed by Sargon the Terrible)
Interview with Dennis on January 29, 2003 (Interviewed by Barbara Williams (Crowley))
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