End of silence for Relics of Humanity.
More than five years after a short but timid EP, the Belarusian band led by Sergey Liakh (guitar, Dispersed, ex-Ominous Scriptures), Pavel Lapkovskiy (bass, Grimentity, ex-Ominous Scriptures), Vladislav Vorozhtsov (drums, Dispersed, Paroxysm Unit, ex-7 H. Target) and recently joined by Flo Butcher (vocals, Tortured, Balance of Terror, ex-Human Vivisection) continue their partnership with Willowtip Records for the release of their third album, Absolute Dismal Domain.
We get off to a gentle start with Omen Apollyon, a short but very heavy introduction that quickly sets the terms with its abrasive groove and more complex harmonics, but it’s only when the massive howl appears that the band reveals its power, followed by Summoning Of Those Who Absorbed where blast reigns unchallenged. The Old School mix is perfect for this massive style of Brutal Death, which also boasts some eerie ambient sections, such as the dark break before the return of the violence that leads into the equally dark and stultifying Taking the Shape of Infinity before an unexpected acceleration. The band’s mastery of both apocalyptic slowness and jerky speed is also evident on In the Name of Ubiquitous Gloom, which features its own crushing eruptions of rage in waves of varying length, but which are skilfully strung together. Paralyzing The Light II, a direct reference to the last track on their previous album, hits us in turn with a most oppressive arsenal, coupling thick riffs with this gloomy atmosphere, then it’s dissonance that gets to work on Absolute Dismal Domain, the eponymous track. It’s quite different from the others, relying more on a dark heavy sound as the vocalist performs his office, but a few more energetic passages remain, while Smoldering Of Seraphim, the following track, puts more emphasis on a relentless rhythm to satisfy impulses of brutality and savagery without neglecting the double kick that blows us from time to time. New impressive bursts of groove come with His Creation That No Longer Exists, which doesn’t take long to nail us to the floor with its fat riffs, but the album returns to its cavernous sound with Dominion, which couples growl with ominous percussion before gradually fading into nothingness, putting the finishing touches to the album.
Relics of Humanity‘s name has always been associated with Old School violence, and I can assure you that Absolute Dismal Domain will contribute to this! The album is short but dirty, massive and definitely darker than their previous productions!
95/100