review by: Abhishek Chatterjee

Just as 2002 draws to a close, Immolation delivers upon us an epic of such immense magnitude that it surpasses with effortless ease most of the other death metal releases of this year. Definitely not the most brutal band, surely not the most technical, but having possession of some of the finest songwriting skills this side of heaven, Immolation have come to symbolize what true death metal, in it's most unholy form, stands for.

Album opener "Of Martyrs and Men" does well to give an indication just how much Immolation have been improving with every album they release. Ever since Failures for Gods Immolation have been expanding their sound, slowly, but deliberately. And now, at this stage, the Immolation sound now has the effect of drawing me deep, way deep into the music, making me feel a part of their excursions into the depths of sonic damnation. Every time I play this album, it's impossible to hit the stop button until the whole album is over. I can't even imagine how it would be if Olympic had printed the lyrics on this promo copy. That is just about the only thing I can crib about.

After building up from a slow, brooding intro, the unholy quartet unleash upon us a frenzy of brilliant riffing and highly technical and fast drumming. Special mention has to be given to the sound here. Each and every instrument can be heard in its majestic, monstrous clarity. As I was saying, Immolation are the true masters in creating the right atmosphere to suit their music. In every song they display this ability by suddenly shifting from intense moments to slow, menacing parts that mesmerize the listener and cause a total detachment from any kind of connection with the physical world. It's very, very hard for me to select a favorite track, but that award would probably go to "Sinful Nature," which has that absolutely delicious pinch harmonic riff that comes in somewhere before the chorus.

If you have any kind of sense, you will have figured out by now that you need to buy this CD. Please do so. This album makes me fucking proud to be a death metal fan.