Blasphemer ‘The Sixth Hour’
Album Review By Adam McCann
Candlelight Records/Blackened Death Metal
Hailing from Italy, it was an eventuality that a country so steeped in Roman Catholic culture would create a band such as Blasphemer. These northern Italians take a running leap at the Christian Dogma, attacking it with a type of death metal that is both technical and brutal. Blasphemer do not necessarily churn out albums and because of this, 22 years into their professional career, the Italians have only just delivered their third studio album ‘The Sixth Hour’.
‘The Sixth Hour’ is a heavy dose of brutality, delivering the concept of the final moments of Jesus Christ as he made his way to Golgotha and eventual crucifixion. What ‘The Sixth Hour’ brings is a wall of sound, distorted guitars and pummelling drums that although a little clichéd are quite infectious; but where this album stands tall is the vocal delivery of Clod De Rosa. De Rosa has a voice which can easily rattle the furniture, tracks such as ‘Hail, King of the Jews’, ‘Stabat Mater’ and the title track blaze forward with all the power that would have fans of blackened acts such as early Vader, and Rotting Christ, to more stellar death acts such as Bloodbath wet with excitement.
Now, the interesting point is that ‘The Sixth Hour’ is that initially not exactly enrapturing; but with multiple listens, this album has an insidious pull and before too long, it is difficult to not thoroughly enjoy with chorus’ which pull the listener in. ‘The Sixth Hour’ is an album which may not get the press and adoration that bigger death metal bands will get; but take the time to listen to ‘The Sixth Hour’ and there is plenty to thoroughly enjoy.
Rating : 82/100
MHF Magazine/Adam McCann
