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OMINOUS CRUCIFIX – THE SPELL OF DAMNATION (4)
Recently, many have claimed that Mexico is the latest goldmine for underrated death metal, and although Ominous Crucifix fit the geographical criteria, they are definitely still a gem that needs a lot of dusting off.
Debut ‘The Spell of Damnation’ immediately comes off like the audio equivalent of a death metal dissertation, in the sense that Ominous Crucifix have clearly swatted up on every imaginable trademark you'd expect from this instantly recognisable genre. However, this approach inevitably results in uninspiring riffs wrapped up in a painfully unoriginal sound. This means that OC's aggressively shrill vocals (similar in style to those of Tardy from Obituary or the legendary Chuck Schuldiner) are subsequently wasted and any evil emotion is lost. It’s almost like being attacked by a rabid but pitifully toothless dog.
On the plus side, at least these fresh-faced Mexicans have aspired to uphold the aggressive legacy that is old school death metal, rather than trying to modernise it with beatdowns and the like. The talent is there but perhaps more imagination should have been used when writing the songs rather than thinking up such silly stage names as Lord Dweller and Rubens the Mercurial Herald. It’s not a promising debut but at least this isn’t their fifth album.
Reviewed byLily Randall
The Spell of Damnation is out now on F.D.A
You’ll like this if… you like putting your iPod on shuffle and not paying any attention to who is actually playing. |
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