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RelentlessReviews #1 Salem - Kaddish

RelentlessOblivion

By RelentlessOblivion
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Introduction

Whilst far from owning every metal album out there, or even every album I want, I do believe my collection is at worst decent in size. As such I'm counting down the top 100 albums I own complete with in depth reviews. (Also plan to be including similar introductions for each post in this little series of reviews). So without any further delay let's get started shall we?

 

Salem - Kaddish (1994)

 

 

track listing

1. The Fading

2. Above The Ground

3. Eyes To Match A Soul

4. Kaddish

5. Fear Of The Future

6. Dying Embers

7. Desert Prayer

8. The Edge Of The Void

9. Ha'ayara Bo'eret

10. The One That No One Knows

 

Salem are a band based out of Jerusalem. Oddly enough they take their name from the infamous town in America and not their own home. The band's Middle-Eastern locale features in the sound here but not to the extent one might think. Certainly this is no Melechesh. Rather Salem forge their own path, and pre-date the aforementioned band to boot.

 

The sound on display here is a blend of melodic doom metal and black metal capped off with some death metal flourishes. As already noted there are some Middle-Eastern touches to the melodies and riffs here but that's hardly a negative.

 

The band's sense of melody and solid musicianship are definite high points on Kaddish. They make for an engrossing listen and a debut more developed then some of Salem's peers.

 

As with anything though there are some negatives. Chief among which is the album's length. Kaddish isn't a long album by any means but it does tend to drag on in places. At times it feels like a song should end only for the band to retread an earlier idea, or hang on to that riff longer then necessary. Additionally the songs can blend into one another meaning Kaddish, while enjoyable, isn't always memorable.

 

Relentless Rating: 6.5/10

Overall Kaddish is a fun album. It's more then solid, but does come with some flaws.

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