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Black Harvest "Attrition"

MacabreEternal

By MacabreEternal
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MacabreEternal

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The first thing obvious once the quick picked strings of the intro subside is that there's an energy, a raw freshly unrestrained emotion to this sound.  As "Denial" jars and jolts its way through a varied and pacy five and a half minutes it is as instant on the senses as that first coffee of the morning or first beer of the weekend on a Friday night.  It's immediate without being overly accessible, memorable without being predictable and varied without being confusing.

 

Once "Solace" plonks you the roller coaster ride of its riffs and melodies you are soon yelling for more with your arms in the air as Kish's vocals provide that perfect blackened death narrative to proceedings.  There's so much flow to this track embracing the progressive tendencies of the performer whilst still showing the technical edge of their ability without it ever becoming boring or showy.

 

As the track closes in an almost psychedelic haze you are soon hauled back into the frenzied tremolo sound of the opening to "Hecatomb".   Showing an eloquence for pace, track four sees an acoustic interlude.  As the mid-track on the EP I at first found "Dawn" a little odd but as I have made repeat listens to the release it has grown on me significantly.  It offers a brief yet appropriate reprise for what's to come.

 

Both "Capture" and "Attrition" are strong finishers to the mini-release format Black Harvest have employed this time around.  The former track bleeds in nicely after the acoustic interlude with its underlying dark choral tones building the track perfectly as it gathers pace.  The same choral vocals return to haunt the end throes of the track setting up nicely the acoustic intro of the title track.

"Attrition" is as a track is as angry and punishing as the definition of the word would suggest, it explores a lot of territory during its whirlwind four minutes fifty four seconds and leaves you with an echoing groan the track comes to an end. Within six tracks Black Harvest present a sustained and enthralling attack of technical death metal with a blackened edge that your gonna keep revisiting.  Over too soon yet somehow still so fitting in its length, it marks the next stage in the progression of the artists' journey brilliantly.

Thanks to FatherA for the super advance copy of the release, much appreciated.

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Requiem Newbie

Requiem

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While I trust the integrity of MacabreEternal 100% because he's a great guy and I respect him highly, isn't writing reviews for people you know kind of like your wife asking if her butt looks big in this dress? You have to choose your words very carefully...

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FatherAlabaster Grand Master

FatherAlabaster

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30 minutes ago, Requiem said:

While I trust the integrity of MacabreEternal 100% because he's a great guy and I respect him highly, isn't writing reviews for people you know kind of like your wife asking if her butt looks big in this dress? You have to choose your words very carefully...

I'm willing to bet that if he didn't think the music was up to snuff, he just wouldn't bother writing a review of it. I wasn't expecting one, and I'm grateful. 

29 minutes ago, natassja7 said:

I guess us other peasants have to wait for our copy :D 

So do I! :) I'm still working with the mastering house on the final final final version.

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Natassja Collaborator

Natassja

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12 minutes ago, FatherAlabaster said:

I'm willing to bet that if he didn't think the music was up to snuff, he just wouldn't bother writing a review of it. I wasn't expecting one, and I'm grateful. 

So do I! :) I'm still working with the mastering house on the final final final version.

Joking mate ;) but you know I'll have one when you're ready, if you need my details again let me know.

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FatherAlabaster Grand Master

FatherAlabaster

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1 hour ago, natassja7 said:

Joking mate ;) but you know I'll have one when you're ready, if you need my details again let me know.

Cheers Nat. It's looking like digital only for the time being, I'll let you know if I'm able to make CDs.

17 minutes ago, GorboGorboze said:

Thanks Macabre, and congratulations Alabaster, I'm excited to hear it. Is the painting of the woman pulling her skull form her head associated with this album? Just wondering.

I've considered it, but I think I'm sticking with the cover photo that I posted in the BH thread.

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MacabreEternal Veteran

MacabreEternal

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9 hours ago, Requiem said:

While I trust the integrity of MacabreEternal 100% because he's a great guy and I respect him highly, isn't writing reviews for people you know kind of like your wife asking if her butt looks big in this dress? You have to choose your words very carefully...

Ha ha Kish's ass fits into anything!

Trust me, if it wasn't up to much there'd still have been a review, constructively detailing how it fell short.  Thankfully no such requirement was needed.

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