An Immortal Creation Reviews:
------------------------------------------------
’ve followed the UK’s The Belonging for a while now, from their slightly forgetful 2005 debut, Setting the Scene, to 2009′s Ashes of a Fallen Throne, where the band took an improved step into impressive blackened war metal. And now, in 2011, with their third follow up, we’ve got yet another quality self-released album.
Continuing their take on melodic blackened war metal, The Belonging are similar though not as blistering or death metal tinged as country mates Spearhead, but they are still fighting on the same battlefield. Searing riffs, rasped vocals and a overall sense of violent yet epic atmospheres that only could be linked with war are cemented by titles like “Militant”, “Fearful Bloody Lesson in Slaughter” and “Hymn of Agincourt”.
Opener “Archangel” sets the tone for the album quite nicely with stern, militaristic blasts and shrill, rousing riffs with a steely march to drive on the machines of slaughter. “Militant” has a Middle Eastern undercurrent and lyrical theme, slowing things down a bit before “Slave” increases the vitriol again with an impressive 6+ minute foray that includes some surprising, but tasteful clean vocals. Admittedly the album then becomes a bit recycled, if still rousing (notably “A Fearful, Bloody Lesson In Slaughter” and its Henry the VIII sample), but for me, the band takes back off again with the stern “Hymn of Agincourt (one of many beat downs England gave France in the the Middle Ages), where the band use a traditional account of the battle for lyrics.
The 8 minute title track rounds things out nicely (with a cool little acoustic fade out), but as it ends a quality album, it still nags at me that the band hasn’t quite peaked yet or delivered something special. None the less, it’s good to see this kind of metal come out of the UK on a consistent basis — and especially metal that looks to the UK’s storied and bloody history. A perfect match, no? E. Thomas.
The Belonging just get better and better with every release. An Immortal Creation is their third full length album and it’s a hugely impressive explosion of violent black/death metal. Whilst clearly inspired by Sweden’s most infamous panzer division, The Belonging are always looking to push themselves, test their formidable abilities and expand their artillery barrage template. You’ll remember this firestorm assault as much for its sense of melody and song structure as its ability to flay the skin from your face with sheer velocity and savagery. Never less than satisfying and occasionally immense. 4 CHRIS KEE
------------------------------------------------
Bradford black metallers The Belonging return some three years after “Ashes Of The Fallen Throne” with their third effort “An Immortal Creation” and the immediate facet that strikes you about the new album is the production style. Gone is the bleak low bass production and in comes a richer more dense and organic sound that owes more to death metal than black metal, though musically this is firmly the blackened stuff. Beginning with “Archangel” Marduk is apparent from the off, right down to the drops in pace and drum fills. The sound as mentioned is more organic and I get the impression the band has opted for a non triggered drum sound which sounds excellent and clear as a bell on an icy cold morning. I particularly enjoyed “Slave” with its vocal terrorism and manic snare blast creating unfettered violence, especially when contrasted with the drops in pace that leave a lingering cymbal tap and slower riff akin to Opeth in an atmospheric sense. I wasn’t too sure about the clean vocal groan used at this stage, it’s definitely different but I prefer the vitriol. “Procreation Of A Demigod” is raucous and beastly with a cracking riff about two thirds in right before a barbaric blast section. The closing title track epic has more Marduk styling and even a touch of latter era Dark Funeral on the riffing style though the slower section is definitely Satyricon for comparison. I enjoyed the closing acoustic section showing the guys have a bit of a softer side. MARTIN HARRIS
POWERPOINTS: 8
8+ Summary
Home grown blackened talent from the darkest depths of Yorkshire comes with a set of high velocity and rabid tunes packed with eclectic riffing and shed loads of talent.
------------------------------------------------
Bradford, UK high speed melodic death/black metal combo The Belonging independently release their third album after 2008's more than commendable "Ashes Of A Fallen Throne". The Belonging certainly aren't newcomers, having formed in 1998, who have been consistently been putting out music since their formation. "An Immortal Creation" continues in the direction of said album further exploring the Swedish styled melodies, chord progressions and serpentine labyrinthine riffage of (early) At the Gates, In Flames, Detonation ("An Epic Defiance") and the likes combined with the blasting brutality of (early) Dark Funeral and Marduk. The demonic rasped vocals of Richard Lester certainly remind of Erik 'Legion' Hagstedt (ex-Marduk, ex-Devian, Witchery). In comparison to their 2008 offering the black metal influences have increased greatly without betraying their death metal foundation. This record is far more dynamic, lean and mean than any of the past work and the overall brutality has been notched up as well. The increased focus on speed and dynamics makes this record far more viscerally intense and direct than past recordings. England has always played an important role in the evolution of extreme metal, with The Belonging is once again prove why. Tracked at at Silent City Studios in Leeds with producer/engineer Rob Hobson "An Immortal Creation" comes with a lush bass-heavy production that combines the best of old school and more contemporary production jobs in a pristine package. As before the artwork, design and lay-out was done by bassist Levi Tubman, which is more than functional. The artwork is a bit dark and a wider pallette of color wouldn't have hurt. Otherwise "An Immortal Creation" is a serviceable dark death metal record that can easily compete with any of the old masters. WOUTER.
------------------------------------------------
What the fuck have we here? The album opens with a schlick-schlock of a gun being cocked then all hell breaks loose. Blazing shimmering riffing, pounding drums, and a vocalist gurgling about war machines and blitzkrieg... did I wander into a Marduk album?
The Belonging hail from jolly old England, but there is nothing jolly about these guys. An Immortal Creation's opening salvo "Archangel" might sound at home on Panzer Division Marduk, but The Belonging are far from a one trick pony.
While the primary attack of this band is "Kill, Crush, Destroy" mode a la Marduk, they also have chops and sensibility. So rather than 30 minutes of blast beat low-E tremolo rape, they bring a lot of other elements in to play.
There is a dual-vocal attack, low growling as well as more traditional BM screeching/rasping.
They have a relentless drummer who is perhaps a distant relative of the Terminator. He cannot be reasoned with, doesn't feel pity, or remorse. And he absolutely will not stop, ever, until you are dead. Or maybe just deaf...
The guitarists display some chops, standard BM tremolo riffing abounds, but is countered with scattered winding riffs that are reminiscent of Nile. They'll also lay off from time to time and let strings resonate a bit to create an eerier atmosphere.
During a section of "Slave" the band even switches it to something that sounds like current Enslaved, expansive guitar lines backing clean vocals. The shift caught me off guard, as did much of the album. It was better than I expected, particularly after the first minute or so of "Archangel". I liked it plenty, but was fearful of 30 minutes of the same song repeated ad nauseum and was instead met with a barrage of ripping metal that covered a good bit of stylistic ground without getting stale or boring.
So they wear some of their influences on their sleeves? Meh. Ultimately this sounds really good and is really well executed, both in terms of how songs are constructed and how they are actually played. It is an enjoyable album.
Or as The Belonging might refer to it, a "Fearful Bloody Lesson In Slaughter". 8/10
Performance: 9
Songwriting: 8
Originality: 7
Production: 8