Gorement
The Ending Quest


5.0
classic

Review

by Pon EMERITUS
June 8th, 2013 | 608 replies


Release Date: 1994 | Tracklist

Review Summary: Brutal and foreboding yet serene and uncontaminated, Gorement's The Ending Quest is a testament to what made old school death metal so special

It’s difficult to find an album that could be considered a better example of “pure” death metal than Gorement’s The Ending Quest. While the modern incarnation of death metal – just like any genre – has its merits, it seems as if any influence that can be attributed to bands like this is lost in translation. As modern acts strive to be the fastest and most brutal, they completely forgo the essence of what made old school death metal so distinct. In recent years, bands like Funebrarum and Cruciamentum have been doing a very commendable job recapturing that old school sound, but this imitation movement seldom pushes boundaries nor produces anything that the original death metal acts couldn’t do better. Perhaps this is why The Ending Quest is such a perfect representation of its genre, as it was unique in its time and has yet to be even vaguely replicated by a modern act.

If the atmosphere of The Ending Quest can be summed up in one word, it would be “eerie”. The production is buoyant, yet powerful and actually quite pleasant. Despite the fuzzy early-90s guitar tone, every instrument is crystal clear, with the lead and rhythm guitars contrasting with each other beautifully. But what is truly special is the band’s ability to utilise this perfect metallic blend of instruments to create some of the most emotive soundscapes heard in death metal. Throughout the 41 minute runtime, the captivating yet unsettling mood is maintained without fail, track to track, taking the listener on an unbroken journey that spans every human emotion imaginable. The hauntingly melodic yet heavy riffing sets the tone of each track, as the rhythm and bass plod along – sometimes at a snails’ pace – you’re frozen with anything from fear to infatuation. As you lay captivated, there is almost a sense that you’re being watched, or even perhaps that something is chasing you, biding its time in a malevolent game of hide-and-seek. As your mysterious pursuer slowly etches closer, travelling as the crow flies, every effort you make to run or hide seems futile as the feeling of your impending doom sets in.

Suddenly the music changes pace, you’re no longer captivated, you’re panicking. As the riffs seamlessly shift from slow and compelling to fast and aggressive, the unobtrusive but guttural vocals howl like a blood lusting wolf in the distance, further cementing the inevitability of your fate. As you’re running for dear life, adrenalin pumping through your veins, the music suddenly eases up, the wailing leads evoke hope, but this relief seldom lasts a minute at a time, and suddenly you’re running for dear life once again. This is, of course, just an example of the images this album can conjure, as very few death metal releases can claim to be as haunting as this one. The see-sawing between atmospheric bliss and mayhem continues almost endlessly, sometimes dipping into soothing acoustic sections but then immediately catching you off guard with breakneck blasts and tremolo picking. By the time the album has run its course, your immediate impression will vary from listen to listen. You can be left uneasy, relieved, enamoured or even saddened, but one feeling is consistent, and that’s that you want to experience what you just did over and over again.

The Ending Quest possesses a certain quality that is difficult to describe without resorting to hyperbole. Very few death metal albums can claim to summon such a profound emotional response. Between the beautifully balanced sound engineering, the beastly vocals, the lingering guitar melodies and the band’s no frills approach to their own brand of “brutality”, Gorement created something of a masterpiece. The Ending Quest is an album completely untainted by trends or by the desire to be faster and heavier than its contemporaries. It's death metal in its most uncontaminated form, focusing wholly and solely on itself, which is why there has never been an album quite like it, and perhaps there never will be.

Recommended Tracks:

All of them



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user ratings (221)
4.1
excellent

Comments:Add a Comment 
Keyblade
June 8th 2013


30678 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

finally an actual review. I agree to with your rating so pos. jk it was a good review dude

Keyblade
June 8th 2013


30678 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

woah wtf is this 4

Keyblade
June 8th 2013


30678 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

yea i need no change this. next time i jam it's gon happen

SubtleBody
June 8th 2013


519 Comments


Good review. Recently procured this band's discography on vinyl. Best $40 I ever spent.

Hyperion1001
Emeritus
June 8th 2013


27339 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

rules

Hyperion1001
Emeritus
June 8th 2013


27339 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

its a good review even if a little pretentious (but then again extreme metal is all about skirting the line between pretentious and tongue in cheek)



the only real criticism i have is watch youre word choice. sometimes you use words that dont really work in context, like the use of "incantation" in the first paragraph and "provoke" in the last one.

Hyperion1001
Emeritus
June 8th 2013


27339 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

dont worry about it, everyone writes over the top pretentious stuff from time to time, its not really a bad thing.

70sPriestIsBetter
June 8th 2013


1932 Comments


sweet album, almost as good as rocka rolla

It’s difficult to find an album that could be considered a better example of “pure” death metal than Gorement’s The Ending Quest.


this is not true

Surtur
June 8th 2013


636 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

Finally a proper review for this classic album! It's a shame that it doesn't get nearly enough recognition that it deserves.

FinalWord
June 8th 2013


99 Comments


Could someone plz send me a link or something to download the album, i cant seem to fin it nowehre. Absolutely nowhere

70sPriestIsBetter
June 9th 2013


1932 Comments


it is hard to find you need to check the random sites on like the 4th page of google n shit

mandan
June 9th 2013


13925 Comments


Very original review, pos'd.

evilford
August 8th 2013


67402 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

never realized you rev'd this jac, nice, pos'd.



gotta jam again haven't heard forever.

oltnabrick
September 8th 2013


40777 Comments


give and take away

SpiritCrusher2
September 8th 2013


6453 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

yea this rules

oltnabrick
September 8th 2013


40777 Comments


F
R
A
N
Z

SpiritCrusher2
September 8th 2013


6453 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

:D

evilford
September 9th 2013


67402 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

"best swedish dm, give or take left hand path"



Agreed

Keyblade
September 9th 2013


30678 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Yep

ffs
September 9th 2013


6342 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

dude!!!!!



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