Review Summary: 7H7E craft something completely unique and unheard of.
"Throes of Absolution," the debut offering by Seattle's 7 Horns 7 Eyes, is one of the latest crushers to be released by Century Media records.
"Throes" begins in a foreboding manner, with a fairly simple, melodic riff played on an acoustic guitar. This eventually transitions into an earth-shaking chug, while the acoustic riff dissonantly compliments the madness. At this point, the listener has a pretty good idea of what the album has to offer. Spine-tingling atmosphere, melodic leads and crushing, odd-meter rhythms.
While it may sound like a fairly simple formula, there is much more depth to be found in this album. Airy atmospherics and dancing guitar solos are some of the core components of "Throes"; along with bone-chilling growls delivered by vocalist JJ "Shiv" Polachek. Landing somewhere in between Mikael Akerfeldt and something completely unique, Shiv proves to be an adequate young death metal vocalist.
Throughout the album, a sense of darkness shrouds the listener. Eerie riffs and monumental drumming enhance this feeling, and seemingly take one on a journey through the depths of hell. Distant synths provide a complimentary ambiance that add depth, texture and many layers of unsettling obscurity.
If death metal, prog, atmospherics or -core are your thing, chances are you'll love "Throes". This will surely be hailed as one of the best releases of 2012, and possibly a classic for years to come.
Recommended tracks:
"Divine Amnesty"
"Cycle of Self"
"Vindicator"
"The Winnowing"
