Destroying the Devoid is the new project of Craig Peters of Deeds Of Flesh and ex- Arkaik, titled Paramnesia and out on Unique Leader. By all accounts this seems like a one-man show, with Peters handling all the songwriting, music, vocals, and production, with mastering completed by Zack Ohren. While there are of course similarities to the technical death metal mayhem that Peters is involved in with his main band Deeds of Flesh, his love for symphonic music and film scores clearly comes to the forefront throughout Paramnesia, so look for plenty of orchestral moments and dramatic bombast to be sprinkled about the arrangements to complement the complex & brutal attack. An exceptional guitar player, there are a boatload of blazing, yet highly melodic guitar solos and crushing riffs, especially on "The Endless Cycles of Lunacy", but in addition expect some wild synth solos and gorgeous piano melodies as well, giving many of these songs a proggy touch. The haunting "Carnivale Nocturno" approaches Fleshgod Apocalypse cinematic brutality, while the moody title cut is a monstrous slice of progressive death metal, the riffs menacingly heavy, the solos blistering, the keyboards mysterious, and the vocals deadly. The three part "Beyond the Dark Veil" suite closes out the album in fine fashion, and here is where the progressive side of Peters' songwriting really comes out in full force, the first part drenched in melancholy piano & synth washes, morphing into a blast of symphonic doom/death before the finale of brutal, progressive death metal, with hints of Cynic, Opeth, and Emperor popping up all over the place, as keyboards, acoustic guitar, and pummeling riffs cascade over the listener.
Paramnesia is a very well done, multi-layered & textured slice of progressive extreme metal. Craig Peters has shown here his full range of musical and compositional skills, and while his work in Deeds of Flesh is of course quite notable, I'd love to hear him take Destroying the Devoid even further. Well done.
Track Listing
1. Chasm Of Existence
2. The Endless Cycles Of Lunacy
3. Carnivale Nocturno
4. Paramnesia
Beyond The Dark Veil
5. Part I: The Co-Existing Gaze
6. Part II: Into The Darkness Beyond
7. Part III: Beneath The Boughs
Printer Friendly Page
Send to a Friend
