Band: Empyreal Sorrow
Album: PRÆY
Label: Unsigned
Genre: Death Metal
Release Date: 20 November 2020
Hailing from Munich, Germany, Empyreal Sorrow is burrowing deep into the theme of humanity. Okay, maybe not so much just humanity, but humanity as a giant swarm of insects. I'm not speaking about as if we were actual insects, but the world population being controlled by a hive mind/collective consciousness. When thought of that way the human condition is bleak indeed.
Grim though the world may be, Empyreal Sorrow has offered a path to salvation through their Cult of Sorrow. If we as individuals reflect on ourselves then maybe - just maybe - we can help avoid mankind's repeated mistakes. You may be asking yourself now, "but James, what the hell does the album sound like?" You're right, you're right - let's get into the music.
PRÆY is their debut release weighing in just shy of 40 minutes. As I've mentioned before I think 34 to 40 minutes is the optimal length for most records, so this is perfect in my book. Blending Swedish death metal tendencies with blackened vocals and with inspiration stemming from such greats as At The Gates, Edge of Sanity and Dark Tranquility it's little wonder to me that this record sounds as giant as it does. The mixing assists in granting a razor-sharp edge to the sound that's striking to the ears.
The foundation is death metal for the overall sound - yet there are assuredly black metal influences ranging from tremolo picking to the vocals mottled throughout the record. While guitarist Martin Hofbauer wrote all of the music each member contributed their own unique stamp on the sound winding up in a collective melodic death metal force to be reckoned with. My favorite tracks that I highly recommend you listen to are; Thrown Into The Fire, Quiet Depression, Voice of Violence, and Killing Silence.
I'm giving PRÆY an 8/10
Empyreal Sorrow's PRÆY is a significant debut with loads of memorable choruses and riffs. If you dig the single you can pre-order the record and as always look out for it on the usual streaming services. Pray to sorrow or become prey to sorrow.