Denigrate – To The Goddess Unknown

Denigrate
To The Goddess Unknown
Label: Inverse Records
Out: November 29th, 2024
Playing time: 48:47

Denigrate are a Doom Metal band from the Finnish capital Helsinki. The band was already founded in 1996 but has only released four albums in this rather long time. However, they have released various EPs and singles. The current album ‘To The Goddess Unknown’ was published at the end of November.

The opening song ‘Crystal Rest’ really rocks right away. Hard riffs and guitar melodies make for a powerful sound. And Galzi Kallio belts out angry growls. But he also masters clear vocals impressively. The beauty and the beast in personal union. In addition to the powerful passages driven by the double bass, there are also quieter, contemplative sections. ‘The Ethics Of Loss’ is calm, almost ballad-like in places. Beautiful melodic guitar hooks inspire the listener. Galzi shows that he can showcase his voice in a very varied way. With a playing time of just less than three and a half minutes, ‘Under Ether’ could be described as an outlier. All the other songs are longer. There are also musical differences. The melodic line seems lively. Without, however, dispensing with the interplay between growls and clear vocals. And the double bass is used again. In ‘The Apparition Of One’, faster and optimistic parts alternate with calm melodies. The guitar hooks are underpinned by strings. Piano sounds introduce ‘One Who Holds The Balance’. Before the riffs strike again mercilessly. The drums drive forward hectically. And brings with it hectic growls. After that, it gets quiet again with ‘Sesame And Lilies’. Initially clean guitars, then majestic, moody riffs. And a beguiling clear vocal. Only the growls are harder with a slightly faster tempo. In contrast, ‘In The Light’ is almost earworm-like. Such catchy melodies are rarely heard in Doom Metal. And that includes the growls. By Doom standards, ‘Semidiapente’ starts almost at high speed. But no, it doesn’t stay that way. The vocals are already back in the mid-tempo range. Nevertheless, you can still hear melody, tempo and rhythm changes right to the end. But without drifting into Progressive Metal. The crowning glory is an outstanding guitar solo.

On ‘To The Goddess Unknown’ we hear eight Doom Metal songs that could hardly be more different. And every single song is highly melodic. Varied songwriting, a powerful production and very good musicians make for a great sound experience. An absolute recommendation for every Metal fan.

Denigrate – Sesame And Lilies: https://youtu.be/H-Ho5kyH120?si=IhJU7EChZlSgPwS3

Lineup:

Galzi Kallio – Vocals
Pekka Pyrhönen – Bass
Seppo Nummela – Guitar
Teemu Riekki – Guitar
Tipi Toivanen – Drums

Track list:

• Crystal Rest
• The Ethics Of Loss
• Under Ether
• The Apparition Of One
• One Who Holds The Balance
• Sesame And Lilies
• In The Light
• Semidiapente