Firmly rooted in technical death metal, Selves We Cannot Forgive is so much more than that with Black Crown Initiate able to truly bonecrushing riffs with elements of progressive metal. Where this album really shines is in the songwriting. For example, the opener 'For Red Cloud' is filled with intense double bass and generally brutal riffs. Upon its ending, the album goes tame for the long intro of Sorrowpsalm before returning to beat you down with even heavier riffs. This theme stays throughout the entire 51 minutes and allows the record to stay fresh for each and every song. Black Crown Initiate do a great job with variation with careful attention to songwriting giving the listener a break where it is needed. Stark contrast is found between guttural vocal ridden blast beat riffs leading directly into more melodic, chordal passages lead by clean vocals. Both vocal styles are done well and the interplay between them is special here. Selves We Cannot Forgive is a must listen for any metal enthusiast with For Red Cloud, Sorrowpsalm and Belie The Machine being essential tracks. Despite those being standouts, it would be a shame to not experience the entire journey which at its heaviest is beyond brutal and at its softest gives way to proggy jam solos that do not come off as forced or pretentious as in many other modern metal records.
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