Redemptor: Agonia

What do you get when you unite current and former members of bands such as Decapitated, Vader, Hate, Sceptic, Sothoth, Banisher, Deivos and more? Well you get the Polish Technical Death Metal veterans Redemptor. Having been kicking around now with various line-ups since 2001, Redemptor have returned following up from their last album Arthaneum, with Agonia. Here the band flexes their technical muscle in the pursuit of creating overwhelming and atmospheric Death Metal in the mold of bands like Gorguts, Morbid Angel, Immolation and Death. The feelings of anguish, fear and despair are the focus here.

Agonia begins its descent into the dark netherworlds with “Tectonic Plates� which is laced with those dark atmospheres mentioned above. “Potion Of The Skies� continues building in this direction, however, whether intentionally or not there also seems to be the slightest glimpse of hope hidden in there as well. “Tar� of course though comes and bludgeons any of those glimpses of positivity into a bloody paste. Replete with discordant dissonance and skull crushing percussion. “Further From Ordeal� slows the pace and once again is more about setting the gloomy mood rather than hacking you to death. However don’t be confused, the furiousness is still there, however it takes the back seat to the atmosphere and feeling. There are touches of choral and almost symphonic elements within Agonia as well that help bring some of the more uplifting power forward. Never though straying into anything cheesy and it’s all in perfect service to the overall feel. When the drums kick in on “Wounds Unhealed� it’s total Death Metal badassery with dark dissonant riffs creating the oppressive mood, again though, also somehow having a little light peeking through the cracks that uplift the song as well. A common trait, this balancing act, throughout Agonia. The album closes with the expansive power of “Les Ruines De Pompei� which builds from acoustic passages into dark, evil, explosions of anguish and destruction in the most epic way possible.

All the performances are fantastic on Agonia and the production is handled with great expertise by Tomasz Zalewski. The guitar tones are full and furious sounding while not being so over the top to be impenetrable. The drums sound fantastic as well and unlike many albums in this genre are sitting a bit further in the mix allowing the other instruments to create more atmosphere. Very cool. Also there is the inclusion of keyboard sounds throughout which just help give everything an even bigger sound. Overall this is a killer album for fans of technical death metal, especially in the vein of the bands mentioned above. Redemptor have issued a powerful statement of intent with Agonia and they have my full attention. Highly recommended.

Redemptor:
Michal Xaay Loranc- Vocals
Daniel Kesler- Vocals/Guitar
Hubert Wiecek- Guitar
Kamil Stadnicki- Bass
Daniel Rutkowski- Drums
Pawe�' Pavulon Jaroszewicz-Drums (Live)

Tracks:
1. Tectonic Plates
2. Potion Of The Skies
3. Tar
4. Further From Ordeal
5. Excursus Ignis
6. Aurora
7. Debris
8. Wound Unhealed
9. Les Ruines De Pompei

Added: January 15th 2022
Reviewer: Benjamin Dudai
Score:
Related Link: Band @ Bandcamp
Hits: 574
Language: english

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