Album Review: 1349 - The Wolf And The King
1349 are a band who have the soul intention and vision to maintain the legacy of black metal and their
Ophidian Memory, hailing from Des Moines, USA, is known for its innovative approach to metal, using melodic death metal as a foundation to incorporate elements of black metal, thrash, progressive metal, and metalcore.
Melodic death metal project Ophidian Memory, the brainchild of Blake Lamoureux, is set to release its latest album “Carrion Lord” on September 27th, 2024. Ophidian Memory, hailing from Des Moines, USA, is known for its innovative approach to metal, using melodic death metal as a foundation to incorporate elements of black metal, thrash, progressive metal, and metalcore. “Carrion Lord" continues this tradition, offering a heavier and more unrelenting sound compared to its predecessor “Our Shattered Garden”. Lamoureux comments:
“Carrion Lord is the most ambitious and brutal Ophidian Memory release to date. The lyrics portray themes of deception, sacrifice, undreamt horror, and war. Musically the death and black metal notches have been turned all the way up, while the progressive notch has been turned down greatly until late in the album, giving a reprieve to the listener for a slight moment until the record ultimately closes with a ripping epic finishing track.”
The album is best experienced as a front-to-back listening journey, with each track offering a unique blend of subgenres that keeps the listener engaged throughout. Lyrically, “Carrion Lord” delves deeper into the fictional universe of “Existence”, a dark fantasy epic created by Lamoureux that has become the cornerstone of Ophidian Memory's conceptual approach.
On this album, Ophidian Memory has moved away from the progressive metal feel, choosing to take on a darker and heavier tone which reflects the brutal narrative this time around. Expect lots of unhinged vocals, riffs for days, and oppressive drums. For those who love extreme metal of all decades, in the vein of The Black Dahlia Murder, Behemoth, and Blood Red Throne, this one's for you.
Bandcamp - https://ophidianmemory.bandcamp.com/
More Info: https://www.instagram.com/ophidianmemory/
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