Band:	Ensorcelor
Album:	Crucifuge
Style:	Blackened doom metal, Sludge metal
Release date:	May 13, 2011
A review by:	Daniell

01. By Mycomancy Insumed
02. Crucifuge

Last time that I reviewed Ensorcelor, they were a very fresh newcomer making their first, tentative steps in the world of blackened doom metal. The EP released last year, Urarctica Begins, made quite an impression on me. Its raw force satisfied me, especially the varied vocal performances by three band members. In retrospect, I might rate it about half a point lower, but I'm still impressed by its despondent, despairing atmosphere.

Just a year later we get Ensorcelor's first full length release. Or is it full length? It's shorter than last year's EP and has fewer songs. Namely, two very long songs. But who cares, as long as the music is good? And it is, even though, again, its appeal will be limited to a very narrow group of people who can actually stomach and enjoy such ugly music.

When played after Urarctica Begins, Crucifuge sounds as if it was released by a different band. There's much more order and discipline this time around. The band seems to have decided on their musical niche and have worked hard to make cohesive songs. The vocals are mainly limited to one singer (with another chipping in occasionally), who shrieks with such conviction, that you can't really miss the other vocal lines that, after all, worked very well on the debut EP. Maturity is the order of the day on Crucifuge. Slow build-ups lead to carefully planned, even though equally slow, follow-ups and the succession of riffs and consecutive passages is much more logical and natural. The atmosphere is less doleful and grieving, replaced by the feeling of something inevitably sinister and menacing. Skin deep fear creeps out of every note of this album and permeates the listener's mind. The production is also a bit better than before. Better as in dirtier and more obnoxious, that is.

At times this album reminded me of Wormphlegm's Tomb of the Ancient King. Don't jump out of your pants yet, it's not that good, at least not yet. It's quite hard to beat the atmosphere that those two insane Finns managed to conjure up, but who knows what Ensorcelor will serve us next time? They do have the potential.