Desecresy - The Mortal Horizon

Published August 14 2017

*=Staff's pick	Amidst* Horizon Blazing Percussive Necromancy* Excavation Concealed Depths Atrophoid Telekinetic Ignition* Perpetual Waves Approaching Infinity

Genre	Death/Doom Metal	Tommi Grönqvist	Vocals
Tracks	9	Tommi Grönqvist	Guitar
Running time	33 Min.	-	Guitar
Label	Xtreem Music	Tommi Grönqvist	Bass
Release	August 12, 2017	Tommi Grönqvist	Drums
Country	Finland	-	Keyboards
Producer	-
Similar bands	Krypts, Asphyx, Bolt Thrower

Desecresy rose from the ashes of Slugathor and has released a string of albums since 2010, effectively carving their own niche within the rather narrow death/doom moniker. Desecresy was previously a two-man outfit, but is now a one-man band as Tommi Grönqvist assumed vocal duties as well. Previously handling all the instruments as well as the songwriting duty, not much can be expected to change in the sound of Desecresy though.

The band's sound has always been firmly rooted in a traditional death/doom vein bringing bands like Asphyx and Bolt Thrower to mind, along with contemporary Finnish countrymen such as Krypts. What set Desecresy apart from the rest, however, was always the haunting and eerie leads, bringing ones inner Lovecraftian horrors to life.

On this, Desecresy's fifth album, all is pretty much as expected. The change in vocalist is not particularly noticeable and the music shifts from mid- to doom-tempo effectively throughout the album. The downtuned rhythm guitars form the foundation upon which the horror-infested leads do their filthy deed.

Yet, I will have to proclaim this, the least appealing Desecresy album to date. The main culprit spells the production. Having previously relied on the music to do the job while sporting a crisp production, on 'The Mortal Horizon' the production is thick and murky unfortunately drowning the leads which Desecresy primarily relies upon. Multiple listens will decipher these eventually, but the feeling of being sucked into a vortex of nightmares does never truly occur on 'The Mortal Horizon' as with previous efforts by Desecresy.

Apart from the production, the songs have this slight feeling of being rushed and could have benefited from a bit more polishing before entering the studio. Where every song has previously served a purpose in the overall experience, there are a few songs on this one which feels like filler material. Desecresy still does the job better than most contemporaries, but with four solid albums preceding this one there is plenty of more material to return to before 'The Mortal Horizon'.

Performance	Originality	Production	Vocals	Songwriting
7	6	4	6	6

Summary
6 chalices of 10 - Tengan