Album Review

Immolation

Majesty and Decay

It is always a big deal when one of the leaders of the death metal community comes out with a new album. I believe metalheads are always looking forward to these albums because they love to hear their favorite bands come out with new material and hope that it still carries the same qualities that drew them in when they first heard the band. Immolation is one of those legendary bands that can create a huge buzz simply by putting out new material. And their new album, Majesty and Decay, lives up to Immolation’s illustrious career.

The album starts off with “Intro,” an eerie mix of screams and atmospheric effects that gives the listener chills when listening for the first time. Then without any warning, “The Purge” kicks in and pummels you into submission. Bludgeoning double bass kicks capable of giving the listener a concussion starts the song off and gives you a hint of the journey to come. The drums rarely stop even when the guitars slow down, creating a devastating impression of pure doom and dread. Next up is “A Token of Malice,” a short but brutal track with intense lyrics. “Cast the fire, scorch the earth / Punish them and rip the ground away / Storm with vengeance, leveled plains / Leave them nothing and lay the land to waste.” The following track is the namesake of the album, “Majesty and Decay.” The song epitomizes the entire album by showing brutally fast riffs and solos (majesty) as well as the slower, incredibly intense passages (decay.) When Ross Dolan growls over these evil sounds one can be forgiven if they think that devil is actually being invoked through their speakers.

The album continues on to completely obliterate most of the death metal albums that have come out this year. Immolation continue to further their legacy of being one of the greatest death metal bands of all time. With an uncompromisingly heavy sound, Immolation maintain their tradition of writing great albums while proving that death metal is a true art form when done the right way.