Band: Setherial
Title: Ekpyrosis
Label: Regain Records
Distribution: Suburban
Release date: 14/06/2010
Review: CD

The mighty Swedish horde Setherial is back with a new piece of pitch-black morbidity. The band might not be as ‘popular’ as, let’s say, Dark Funeral, Marduk or Necrophobic, yet they might be as influential as these partners in extreme crime. Setherial are active for more than a decade and a half and did never disappoint, with not one single release. And with gratitude to experience and, I guess, knowledge because of more than, in mean time, fifteen years of existence, Setherial have grown, progressed with each recording they did.

And Ekpyrosis goes on in the very same way. The eight tracks last for forty five minutes and go on in the vein of Setherial’s latest material – read: the band’s Regain-era (in the first half of this decennium, the band left long-time partner / label Napalm Records). It means a nasty, sulphuric and diabolic form of melodic yet intense and malignant Black Metal. Especially the technical riffs, the many tempo-changes, including nicely performed sudden assaults, and the supportive yet megalithic rhythm section are pleasant to every fan. The tempo varies a lot. The band is known for its blast pieces and up-tempo power, and this time it’s not different. The slower parts might be more present than before, and in Ekpyrosis’ case they do absolutely lift the whole up. Especially the epic atmosphere that gets created by a few mainly slower parts is a superb progression. At the same time, the band plays more professional as well as more creative, exploring new gates to Utter Darkness. And it all turns out fine, very fine indeed. A small difference is the addition of very, very few avant-garde / progressive pieces. It does not mean the Dream Theatre way, even not the Opeth way; it’s too modest. And in this subtle, almost untouchable case I can really appreciate it. The sound too is a surplus. The album comes with a brutal yet well-balanced production / mixture, painting the whole with colour prints of grey and black.

All this makes this evil-worshipping piece of life-destruction (one of) the best thing(s) Setherial ever did.

87/100

Ivan Tibos.