Band: Korpius
Title: Shades Of Black
Label: Maple Metal Records
Distribution: Maple Metal Records
Release date: Spring 2011
Review: CD

A Canadian four-piece, this Korpius, with a mostly interesting self-produced recording, registered during the second half of last year (engineered at Quebec-based Cheriborg Studio by guitar player / vocalist Philippe d’Astous; mix and mastering at Red Dusk Studio with Mat Laperle).

Thirty-nine minutes of North-American Death Metal, the technical way, the slightly experimental-progressive way, giving a modern touch to the old fashioned compositions. There is a unique equilibrium between the straight-forward rhythms and the melodic spheres, putting a no-nonsense approach and an own identity in perfect balance. Main vocals: rather screaming, slightly blackened, including many deep grunts and growls. Tempo: mainly varying between slow and up-tempo, including a handful of faster parts, as well as finely tuned Doom-Death-influenced constructions. Each song, even though not being that varying in general, contains many tempo-changes, and the interaction between somewhat dissonant bass- and guitar-riffs and drum patterns at the one hand, and harmonious melodies at the other, has been worked out very carefully.

Not Canada’s finest, yet decent!

80/100

Ivan Tibos.