Impiety - Paramount Evil
Paragon Records - PRG-24015 - November 23rd, 2004
By Josh Phillips
Originally forming in Singapore in the early 1990s, Impiety has since re-formed with an international line-up, led by bassist/vocalist Shyaithan. The band's approach on Paramount Evil is an all-out howitzer assault, blending various forms of extreme metal. In some ways comparable to the war metal attacks of bands such as Destroyer 666, Impiety still creates a sound viscous as all hell and completely their own.
The first thing to note here, is the production. Instead of the pummeling, heavy sound most death metal oriented groups go for, this band has elected to choose a sound that is razor sharp and biting. A thin tone that accents each riff and lets them dice into your soul. This complements Impiety's overall sound very well and is especially fitting to the vocal shrieks of Shyaithan. A mid-ranged combination of growls and screams, he often comes off sounding more in the black metal vein and this contributes to the record's raw sound.
There are eight tracks here, all similar, but varied enough in the riffing, which is without a doubt the focal point of the record, that it remains interesting over the course of its 42 minutes of playing time. From the moment Shyaithan screams out "PARAMOUNT EVIIIIIIILLLL!" and all hell breaks loose, you'll be treated to some of the most blackened and brutal death/thrash on the planet. Rarely does this record slow it down, but when it does, such as on closer "Sunset Detonation", the result is a tremendous thrashy groove where the vocals truly burst forth and spill their venom. The musicians here are all technically proficient with the guitar riffing and leads courtesy of Antimo Buonnano and Eduardo Guevara (Cenotaph) ravaging the album in all places. Oscar Garcia also turns in a very solid performance on the kit with plenty of cymbal work for variation and all of the blasting brutality you'd expect. Hard to pinpoint highlights, so I'll just go ahead and say you've gotta listen to the whole album to get an idea of the intensity on display.
The lyrical contents are as grim as the music and discuss such terrible events as the Nanjing Massacre and Holocaust amongst a host of other historical and religious events that have caused death and war. Certainly an interesting, if not gruesome read.
Overall, if you are a fan of bands such as Destroyer 666, Gospel of the Horns and their general sound, chances are you'll also find many things to love about Impiety's Paramount Evil. Throw on this putrid slab of death and prepare to be sucked into a whirlwind of war.
8.25/10
Official Impiety Website
Official Paragon Records Website
Paragon Records - PRG-24015 - November 23rd, 2004
By Josh Phillips
Originally forming in Singapore in the early 1990s, Impiety has since re-formed with an international line-up, led by bassist/vocalist Shyaithan. The band's approach on Paramount Evil is an all-out howitzer assault, blending various forms of extreme metal. In some ways comparable to the war metal attacks of bands such as Destroyer 666, Impiety still creates a sound viscous as all hell and completely their own.
The first thing to note here, is the production. Instead of the pummeling, heavy sound most death metal oriented groups go for, this band has elected to choose a sound that is razor sharp and biting. A thin tone that accents each riff and lets them dice into your soul. This complements Impiety's overall sound very well and is especially fitting to the vocal shrieks of Shyaithan. A mid-ranged combination of growls and screams, he often comes off sounding more in the black metal vein and this contributes to the record's raw sound.
There are eight tracks here, all similar, but varied enough in the riffing, which is without a doubt the focal point of the record, that it remains interesting over the course of its 42 minutes of playing time. From the moment Shyaithan screams out "PARAMOUNT EVIIIIIIILLLL!" and all hell breaks loose, you'll be treated to some of the most blackened and brutal death/thrash on the planet. Rarely does this record slow it down, but when it does, such as on closer "Sunset Detonation", the result is a tremendous thrashy groove where the vocals truly burst forth and spill their venom. The musicians here are all technically proficient with the guitar riffing and leads courtesy of Antimo Buonnano and Eduardo Guevara (Cenotaph) ravaging the album in all places. Oscar Garcia also turns in a very solid performance on the kit with plenty of cymbal work for variation and all of the blasting brutality you'd expect. Hard to pinpoint highlights, so I'll just go ahead and say you've gotta listen to the whole album to get an idea of the intensity on display.
The lyrical contents are as grim as the music and discuss such terrible events as the Nanjing Massacre and Holocaust amongst a host of other historical and religious events that have caused death and war. Certainly an interesting, if not gruesome read.
Overall, if you are a fan of bands such as Destroyer 666, Gospel of the Horns and their general sound, chances are you'll also find many things to love about Impiety's Paramount Evil. Throw on this putrid slab of death and prepare to be sucked into a whirlwind of war.
8.25/10
Official Impiety Website
Official Paragon Records Website
