Necronomicon - The Sacred Medicines
Skyscraper Records - February 10, 2004
By Adam McAuley
Necronomicon are a very promising death metal band from Canada. Their music is similar to Decapitated, but the group have a somewhat different musical approach, incorporating Egyptian elements. Singer Dominik has a distinctive low-pitched vocal style, much like Sauron of Decapitated, though not quite as mechanical sounding. The music is a blend of sharp blastbeat sections with slower, ethereal sections. The drumming, in particular, is machine-like and incredibly catchy, forming a solid back-bone for the band's chugging riffs.
The Sacred Medicines is very similar to Necronomicon's debut, but perhaps has more variation, and makes greater use of atmosphere enhancing interludes. Furthermore, the solos and female chanting offer a nice melodic contrast to the blasting portions that consume a large portion of this disk. Non-interlude songs are all solid, and the album climaxes towards the end with a series of great tracks following each other and finishing things off in style. An instrumental track, "Dreaming", follows on from a nice sublime intro, into a punishing yet complex barrage of riffs that will make your head spin. "Temple of the Sun" features tasty drum fills and a stupendous array of solos and epic guitar licks.
If you're even a casual death metal fan, give The Sacred Medicines a shot. And pick up their equally excellent first album, Pharaoh of the Gods, while you're at it!
8.5/10
Officia Scyscraper Music Website
Official Necronomicon Website
Skyscraper Records - February 10, 2004
By Adam McAuley
Necronomicon are a very promising death metal band from Canada. Their music is similar to Decapitated, but the group have a somewhat different musical approach, incorporating Egyptian elements. Singer Dominik has a distinctive low-pitched vocal style, much like Sauron of Decapitated, though not quite as mechanical sounding. The music is a blend of sharp blastbeat sections with slower, ethereal sections. The drumming, in particular, is machine-like and incredibly catchy, forming a solid back-bone for the band's chugging riffs.
The Sacred Medicines is very similar to Necronomicon's debut, but perhaps has more variation, and makes greater use of atmosphere enhancing interludes. Furthermore, the solos and female chanting offer a nice melodic contrast to the blasting portions that consume a large portion of this disk. Non-interlude songs are all solid, and the album climaxes towards the end with a series of great tracks following each other and finishing things off in style. An instrumental track, "Dreaming", follows on from a nice sublime intro, into a punishing yet complex barrage of riffs that will make your head spin. "Temple of the Sun" features tasty drum fills and a stupendous array of solos and epic guitar licks.
If you're even a casual death metal fan, give The Sacred Medicines a shot. And pick up their equally excellent first album, Pharaoh of the Gods, while you're at it!
8.5/10
Officia Scyscraper Music Website
Official Necronomicon Website
