DEPHOSPHORUS - Ravenous Solemnity

This is the third album of Greek thrash band Dephosphorus. Having categorised them within thrash metal I have to say that they don't sound like any other Thrash metal band. On Ravenous Solemnity, Dephosphorus touch on various elements within extreme music and they jump between those elements and employ them in their own way with ease and without breaking up the flow within each song. The flow of thrash, hardcore punk, grind and death in how the band execute their art, shows how the musicians feel at home inside all of those genres and further.

At the same time Dephosphorus sound eerie. The guitarsound is uniquely nightmarish and some of the riffs those guys incorporate in their songwriting would have had them burned at the stake not so long ago. Combine this with the anguished vocals. We're talking high pitched terror instead of the vicious growling that we know all too well within extreme metal and not only does it work out, it adds to how unique the band is. Personally I don't know anything about drumming but when listening it is clear to me that this drummer is enjoying his instrument, not that he is drumming to show off, he adds changes that add fill and tightness to the songs.

Ravenous Solemnity is a fast album of songs that is not only fast in the way of mostly being played fast. Everything happens fast on the album, as in tempo and mood changes within songs. This album has moments of skincrawling horror effects and other of circle pit visions and they finish with showing us where their roots lie with covering "The Blood Runs Red" (at least on my version). I am going for the double vinyl! [7 Degrees Records / Handshake Inc.]
- Sigurður Harðarson