Band:	Gothmog
Album:	Aeons Of Deception
Style:	Melodic black metal, Symphonic black metal
Release date:	March 2012

01. Solve Et Coagula
02. Escape To Nowhere
03. Beyond The Mist Of Time
04. Deathbringer
05. Aeons Of Deception
06. The Bargain Struck
07. The Age Of Thought
08. Nirnaeth Arnoediad (Unnumbered Tears)
09. ...And I Shall Be Reborn
10. The Blackest Of The Paths

Gothmog's symphonic brand of black metal, a la Dimmu Borgir and Carach Angren, is quite stale at this point in history. I mean it's 2012, and a large portion of melodic/symphonic black metal bands are either dying out or moving on from the trend. Not these guys though... and I suppose that's okay.

But it's not better than "okay", and that's a problem. The genre isn't crowded for a reason: because many of those who've tried, failed. Just look at recent releases from the likes of Agathodaimon and Graveworm. What keeps Aeons of Deception from complete and utter mediocrity is the more serious moments. On the whole it's a somewhat cheesy, "happy" black metal album; however, a decent portion of the material could still be filed under the "tried and trve" section.

Regardless, the lack of spite and aggression is simply overbearing. The listener can't shake the idea that they're listening to something contrived, as if aimed towards a specific demographic with dollar signs in mind. Granted, the musicianship is top-notch; you get all kinds of fun solos and the professionalism is obvious, and the album makes sense as a cohesive story. It just doesn't feel right, like sex with two condoms on - hell, like sex with any amount of condoms on.

Taken at face value, Aeons of Deception isn't the worst thing to grace the planet. It's actually a decent-sounding majestic piece of symphonic black metal that sets its sights on achieving the most epic form of glory possible with a shameless disregard for taking a more traditional route. The band members seem comfortable and more than satisfied with the new material, so if you aren't overly concerned with an apparent focus on theatrics then Gothmog may just be that accessible band you've been looking for to help you further develop a taste for things more extreme.