Band: Procession
Title: Destroyers Of The Faith
Label: Doomentia Records (CD) / High-Roller (LP)
Release date: December 8th 2010
Review: CD

There used to be a German Death Metal band called Procession during the earliest nineties, with members that were involved with Saxony-based Death-horde Deathtrap (the one that released a very interesting compilation-album with demonstration-, live and rehearsal-material in November 2010 through German Democratic Recordings) as well.
[for the purists amongst us: at the end of the eighties, when Deathtrap were active, there was another German act with that moniker as well, hailing from Baden-Württemberg and playing straight-forward Thrash Metal]

The Chilean formation Procession was formed in 2006 by Felipe Plaza (who’s also involved with Capilla Ardiente and he used to be in Mourners Lament) in the city of Valparaiso, yet now the band resides in capital Santiago. They released two demos (one was a compilation, as a matter of fact) and an EP between their birth and this debut, which will be released through Czech Doom-label Doomentia. In mean time, Felipe recruited two new members, Capilla Ardiente-colleague and bass player Claudio Botarro Neira (ex-Atomic Noise Machine, ex-Garbage Breed/Poema Arcanvs) and drummer Francisco Aguirre.

The six tracks on Destroyers Of The Faith (named after Judas Priest’s Defenders Of The Faith?) last for more than forty six minutes and oh yes, this is a tribute to the Doom-elite throughout the years, yet with a focus on the eighties and nineties, of course – and even the seventies, if you won’t ignore the traditional approach. The whole goes on in the vein of the 2009-EP The Cult Of Disease, yet with a better production and more cohesive and professional hymns.

The album opens with a very short track, Hyperion, which can be considered some kind of introduction to Destroyers Of The Faith. The title track honours the band’s influences with skilled craftsmanship and intelligent song writing. It brings epic Doom-splendour in the vein of Candlemass, Count Raven or Solitude Aeternus, spiced with glorious riffing in the vein of Bathory (Viking-era, evidently) and Ereb Altor. Next song, The Road To The Gravegarden, originally appeared on 2009’s EP, but this re-recorded version differs a little. What to think about that fabulous opening riff à la early Cathedral? And the guest solo on this song by former Reverend Bizarre / Lord Vicar frontman Peter Vicar? And what about those massive, pounding melodies, which do characterise most other songs too? Indeed, Chants Of The Nameless, Tomb Of Doom and White Coffin too are powerful, sinister, gloomy and emotional Doom epics in the vein of Candlemass, Solstice, Isole, Count Raven, Cathedral (yet without the grunts) and Solitude Aeternus.

[additional note: the band mentions Iron Maiden as an influence, and the album’s title, referring to Judas Priest might be confusing as well, but I can hardly detect any (NOW)BHM-element at all – except for a modest touch of Sabbath maybe?]

Even though Procession aren’t the most innovative band (at all), they did a wonderful job, which will be appreciated by any fan of (Traditional) Epic Doom. The sound is somewhat roughly unpolished, but that’s a good thing (because it gives the whole a foggy, misty atmosphere), and the variation in each (long) track is a surplus for sure.

Oh yes, finally this. In a few weeks / months, Sarlacc Productions will release a very limited split-EP with German Doom-meisters Mountain Throne (a Mirror Of Deception-side project).

82/100

Ivan Tibos.