One of this year’s last releases is signed by Empyrean Fire.
The band, formed by Tricia Myers (vocals), Jason Yorke (guitar/bass/programming/backing vocals) and Brian Rush (keyboards/backing vocals) offers us a first album, Deliverance.
The album is illustrated by The Last Judgement, a drawing from the french illustrator Gustave Doré, which is not a first time into the Black Metal world, and which immediately brings us the comparison with Emperor. But the similarities don’t stop here, because the band also plays a majestic Black Metal with Melodic and Symphonic inspirations. Proclamation, the introductive track, suggests it, then Gathering Storm, the first song, shows it. Samples, choirs, but above all a magnificent, dark and oppressive sound. The vocalist’s howlings sometimes melt to mesmerizing clean vocals, while sharp riffs shear us from everywhere, just like on Descent. The wong is more and more weighing, then Perdition comes to bring the deepest despair, shrouded by this wonderful aura. The musician’s backing vocals help this heaviness, as well as on the airy Corruption, a song that alternates between a dark softness and a relentless oppression. The album continues with dissonant riffs on The Siege, a stabbing song, then ends with the long but beautiful Final Battle. The sound is hypnotic, mainly thanks to the contrast between clean vocals and screams, and the final part will literally finish us.
Unknown by all, Empyrean Fire drops a true bomb of blackness. Deliverance draws strength from the contrast between sharp riffs, haunting melodies, oppressive melancholy and mild beauty, and announces nothing but good for the band.
95/100