A concerto of sadness

Orchestral Metal is hard lately on the rise, many bands expand their sound spectrum with the aid of classical instruments. However, it is possible only a few to really set the tone and homogeneous to join the orchestra with their own sound. At this, still relatively manageable, group belong the Greeks Septic Flesh definitely do so. Even the highly acclaimed previous album "Communion" included in 2008 AD classic sounds that harmonize perfectly with the raging death metal band. Three years has allowed the band time to provide said plant an equivalent successor to the side. And the result is "The Great Mass" belongs definitely to the best of what has been published this year in music, perhaps it is even the best album of this year. After all, the attention to detail and the ideas that have this work as its own, are unprecedented. No other work presents such a unity of music, artwork and lyrics. All three factors together perfectly and forms an album full of epic and dark. This begins with the fascinating, sinister cover and ends with the ten songs that play on the same allesammt, high level. Lengths or boring passages can be found anywhere on the album. Instead, you get a musical variety on offer that is unparalleled. From sinister guitar riffs and drumming on aggressively over Seth gegrowlte and Sotiris clean vocals to strings and epic choirs will find everything on this disc. In each of these desktop elements has its place and forms part of the collected works without being übeflüssig at any point. Never one has the feeling that something has been used, just because you had the chance. Every sound of the album has its raison d'être. The extremely successful blend made by Peter Tägtgren contributes to transport the whole epic sound wall in the living room of the listener. I would even say that it is far Tägtgren best work as a producer. Despite the variety of instruments used, the sound is always clear and powerful, really very well done. The atmosphere of the album is this anyway to very good. So it looks powerful and sublime, dark and morbid and hard and powerful at the same time. A better title than "The Great Mass" You could not have choose for this album, because it actually acts like a huge, black mass of sound that rolled over and captures the listener. In many places a shiver down your spine, whether the enormous size of the pieces of music. The ingenious lyrics, which up ranging from religious content to horror stories in the style of Lovecraft, do the rest in order to enhance this effect. Along with the artwork they tell its own story about sinister spirituality. Highly recommended here is the Limited Edition, which includes as an accompaniment a book with additional pictures and also a CD with the whole album as an orchestral version. It's really interesting to see how well the songs work without the band and the song. You can tell really that the band took advantage of the orchestra as a kind of additional band member, otherwise you can not explain this magnificent interweaving of different styles. This one song would highlight the rest do not do justice, that is why I want to write every song a few lines.

1. The Vampire From Nazareth
The album begins with a gentle female voice, then the orchestra rises and swells ever before the song in a death metal explodes steamroller. Ton riffs zappers Seth's vocals in the background and the orchestra completes the scene with brass and strings. In the last third the tempo is slightly throttled and Sotiris clean vocals is used and rounds along with very melodic guitars this successful opener from. The song really includes all the trademarks for the name Septic Flesh stands. Epik, hardness and dark atmosphere, a great opener. 10/10

2. A Great Mass Of Death
The second song begins with a bang and sluggish guitar riffs. In the background you can hear a chorus of subsides and over again. After some time, followed by a break and can be heard for a brief moment nurnoch an increasingly loud chorus. What follows it is accompanied by sound Inferno. More and more elements and tools merge into a single giant sound and let the listener down jaw drop. The epic has built soft before the song ends abruptly then towards the end of a sheer frenzy of orchestral and death metallic sounds. Perfect! 10/10

3. Pyramid God
The third title begins with a driving rhythm and a melody that somehow reminds me strongly of "Requiem for a Dream". This drama is the song but very good stead. The rather simplistic held in comparison to the rest of the album verses and the mighty chorus make "Pyramid God" to one of the catchiest songs on the album. At the end of show Septic Flesh, they also can create a hypnotic, monotone mood off the whole epic and dramatic, which is interrupted only by occasional outbursts. 10/10

4. Five-Pointed Star
The sledgehammer on the album. While in the rest of the songs often the midtempo governed rumgeknüppelt here in high-speed. For the most part of the song is taken from the sometimes melodic and sometimes hard hitting guitar riffs, before the orchestra in the second half of a huge wall of sound piling that supports the striking effect of the title. 10/10

5. Oceans Of Grey
Some songs can be heard for the first time and will immediately recognize that you have something special going on. "Oceans Of Grey" is one of those songs. Much like the opener, he starts very quietly, but rapidly progressed from pounding drums and heavy guitars. After a short time, finally followed by a break to the on again a peaceful, with whispers and theatrical female vocals supplemented, Part connects. This is followed by a chorus that is just out of this world. Rare it is to set to music a band previously succeeded epic darkness such awesome. The rest of the song is the second to none and increases of an oriental interlude into a gigantic finale. The best song Septic Flesh have been published so far. 11/10

6. The Undead Keep Dreaming
After so much rage and drama send Septic Flesh, the doomy "The Undead Keep Dreaming" afterwards. Largely determined by drumms and orchestra and Sotiris wonderfully oblique vocals, this song works compared to previous highlights at first somewhat powerless. During the song, the initially sluggish piece transforms into a very sublime composition that knows how to please absolutely. Nevertheless, the song of the bad luck has simply stand behind the masterpiece "Oceans Of Grey" and somewhat faded. 9/10

7. Rising
Track number seven against convinced again across the board. Sotiris has here a very large vocal part, which gives the song a kind of hymn character. Here dominate again the melodic guitars that make the song a real catchy tune. And although the orchestra is rarely used here, Sotiris and Seth create an almost tangible atmosphere with a kind of sinister duet. One could at most regrettable that the song with 3:18 is a bit too short, but so be it. 10/10

8. Apocalypse
While the orchestra conspicuous by its absence in the previous song takes it again in the foreground. The beginning sounds really after Apocalypse and the rest of the title is more than lives up to its name. The guitars have a slightly oriental-influenced sound and generally the song is strongly reminiscent of the previous album "Communion", which is definitely a compliment. Due to the choruses a also very catchy tune. 10/10

9. Mad Architect
A baffling piece that takes multiple passes to ignite, but then unfold its full potential. The orchestra is here skillfully accents that support the menacing mood and blend perfectly with the lyrics. It is a mistake in the mind's eye almost even through the maze of sounds and loses itself deeper and deeper into the song. 10/10

10. Therianthropy
Finally, the highlight comes to melody, which also includes Sotiris may shine once again. His singing fits like chalk and cheese to the guitar work in this piece. It is virtually the opposite of the hard opener and provides the melodic side of the band in all its glory on display. In addition to tight drumms and Seth growls join the refine the song and make it a more than worthy final album. 10/10

Septic Flesh have therefore created "The Great Mass" an album that scratches on the verge of perfection. Everything you would miss a long track, which once again brings together all the strengths of the band. Is also a pity that the band will probably never achieve the financial status which would allow a live show with an orchestra, as for example. Dimmu Borgir have played. Thus, the group must have let a large part off the line. But what is not can still become to enjoy, it would be them definitely. For who delivers such albums deserves much more attention than the band gets currently.