"Majesty And Decay"

Immolation - "Majesty And Decay"
March 9, 2010
Producer: Paul Orifino

    In every genre of music there is a band that is extremely talented but somehow are not mentioned along with most of their fellow peers on a regular basis. Maybe it's just where I'm located in this world, but in and around my hometown Death Metal Giants Immolation fit that docket perfectly. Even after the release of their 8th studio album: 2010's "Majesty And Decay".
    Immolation sometimes comes under fire because the band is comfortable in treading the waters they have already established in their music. In other words, some fans get displeased because they think Immolation's music isn't growing, furthermore are happy with making the same record again and again.
    However, the band does have an extremely recognizable sound that stands above your average Death Metal group. Immolation is known for their music consisting of: Complex hyper-extended riffs that sound amazing to the musically inclined, but leave  others searching for the first down beat of the measure. Mixed with their very gloomy and agonizing atmosphere that drag their listeners along rather than carrying them. Immolation needless to say has found a niche of their own and try to flourish it more and more with each record. Which is something I don't have a problem with.
    That being said, "Majesty And Decay" is an album that fits the best of both worlds for long time followers of the New York quartet. As it contains the raw unforgiving relentless sound of the early records. It melds very nicely with the more mature, complex signature sound of Immolation we have all grown to love. You can take tracks like "A Token of Malice", "The Purge" plus the title track and you can feel the roots of the earlier material. Then you can take cuts like "The Rapture of Ghosts", "In Human Form" and "The Comfort of Cowards" and hear Immolation do so flawlessly what other bands would sacrifice one of their own members for. Playing such disjointing riffs, along with leads that are broken, yet mesmerizing, that your internal metronome can only struggle to keep on par with!.
    Production wise this is their best album yet. Producer Paul Orifino really made sure on this record that the drums had a life of their own, not just blending in behind the guitars and vocals like on some of their earlier releases. While this record isn't their most technical, I personally feel this is their best album to date. The clarity of the production clearly shows-off all the band's different  strengths and shows why they are highly respected by most Death Metal devouts, including myself. Furthermore showing why they have been a force to be reckoned with since their debut album "Dawn of Possession" which was released 20 years ago in 1991.
    In closing, I encourage all fans of the the Death Metal genre to check out Immolation if you havent done so yet, furthermore a good place to start is with "Majesty And Decay". As it shows a little bit of everything the band has to offer, easily one of the strongest Death Metal releases of 2010. An album that will only gain more praise in my eyes anyway, in the years to come.
My Killer Kutz: "The Rapture of Ghosts", "Power And Shame" & "Divine Code"