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Procession - Doom Decimation review



Reviewer:
8.0

26 users:
7.54
Band: Procession
Album: Doom Decimation
Release date: October 2017


01. The Warning
02. When Doomsday Has Come
03. Lonely Are The Ways Of The Stranger
04. Amidst The Bowels Of Earth
05. Democide
06. All Descending Suns
07. As They Reached The Womb
08. One By One They Died

Procession is one of the most exciting doom metal bands of the last decade and if you think they reached their peak with the two full-length albums that preceded Doom Decimation, well, you've got another thing coming.

The Judas Priest reference of the previous sentence was intentional; the follow-up to the magnificent To Reap Heavens Apart still draws its main influences from doom pioneers, such as Black Sabbath, Candlemass and Pentagram, but Procession have now fused some more classic heavy metal into their sound along with epic elements in a way that bands like Grand Magus and Argus come to mind. The result is a highly enjoyable album for traditional doom metal fans that gets better after every listen.

Quickly ignoring the red sperm-rockets attacking a planet which gives birth to a disgusting creature on this year's worst cover artwork, let's focus on the music. A powerful instrumental intro gives way to "When Doomsday Has Come", the first song where the aforementioned classic heavy metal component is apparent. "Lonely Are The Ways Of The Stranger" slows things down a bit in the beginning, but the transition halfway into the song is no less than epic and majestic. "Amidst The Bowels Of Earth" starts off with guitars tearing apart the earth's insides, before a Black Sabbath-esque riff from the Heaven And Hell era takes over to make it the most stand-out track of the album.

The second half of Doom Decimation follows the same pattern as the first. It begins with an instrumental track (which in this case is a filler), followed by the more upbeat and proggy (!) "All Descending Suns" and concludes with two more doomy and epic songs. If I can voice a complaint about this album it is the fact that these two closing tracks, although pretty strong otherwise, drag a bit too long for their own good and could have been trimmed.

The addition of more heavy, epic and even prog side dishes in Procession's already established doom main course makes for a delicious meal. With granite riffs and duelling guitars, expressive - albeit one-dimensional - vocals, weighty drums and a Geezer Butler-inspired and omnipresent bass, this album brims with pure and passionate metal. Topped-off with lyrics referring to mankind's self-destructing tendencies and acts, it is a great soundtrack for a future barren landscape.

In what has proved to be a very fruitful year for doom metal, Doom Decimation ranks higher than most of 2017's releases of the genre. Don't judge this book by its appalling cover.

"Sons and daughters of the damned
Scourge the ashes of the land
Sons and daughters of the damned
Feed on the ashes of the land"





Written on 31.12.2017 by Only way to feel the noise is when it's good and loud!


Comments

Comments: 4   Visited by: 127 users
31.12.2017 - 20:12
nikarg

Since this is my last review for 2017, I am taking the opportunity to wish to all you Metalstormers out there a very happy and heavy as fuck New Year!
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29.01.2018 - 13:44
Marchosias

Written by nikarg on 31.12.2017 at 20:12

Since this is my last review for 2017, I am taking the opportunity to wish to all you Metalstormers out there a very happy and heavy as fuck New Year!


I have discovered this band and naturally this album from your review. Altough i am not a consumer of doom metal in general it really held my interest trough repeated listens in 2 days.

Its always awesome to hear new bands and records that are this good. A complete breath of fresh air !
----
A mediocre metalhead.
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29.01.2018 - 14:08
nikarg

Written by Marchosias on 29.01.2018 at 13:44

I have discovered this band and naturally this album from your review. Altough i am not a consumer of doom metal in general it really held my interest trough repeated listens in 2 days.

Its always awesome to hear new bands and records that are this good. A complete breath of fresh air !

I am pleased you like it man, it's always a pleasure when somebody discovers a new band. Since you enjoyed this, I suggest you check out last year's releases by Sorcerer and Below (both are available for streaming on YouTube and Bandcamp). You won't regret it
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29.01.2018 - 14:45
Marchosias

Written by nikarg on 29.01.2018 at 14:08

Written by Marchosias on 29.01.2018 at 13:44

I have discovered this band and naturally this album from your review. Altough i am not a consumer of doom metal in general it really held my interest trough repeated listens in 2 days.

Its always awesome to hear new bands and records that are this good. A complete breath of fresh air !

I am pleased you like it man, it's always a pleasure when somebody discovers a new band. Since you enjoyed this, I suggest you check out last year's releases by Sorcerer and Below (both are available for streaming on YouTube and Bandcamp). You won't regret it


I most definetaly will check them out tonight !

Thanks for the advice once more.
----
A mediocre metalhead.
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