post-metal / sludge / doom
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In my review for last year's Dunk! Festival (read), I mentioned this band as one of the highlights and one of the most impressive shows I've witnessed there. They convincingly blended post-rock, black metal and sludge together, all without uttering a single word. With that mix they easily mesmerized the audience, including me.
So when I noticed that there was a new album coming, I couldn't wait to get my hands on a copy. After all, Hemelbestormer is one of the most promising bands in the already packed Belgian scene. The only question remaining, at least for me, was: can they deliver the same intensity, atmosphere and brute power on this album as on stage? The answer:
Hell fucking yeah they can!!!
The power of Hemelbestormer is still massive on this two-track album. From the very beginning of 'Portal to the Universe' to the final sound of 'Portal III', this quartet grabs the listener's attention in a severe deathlock and drags him down into a continuous vortex of guitars, drums and soundscapes.
Monolithic riffs and haunting layers of sound alternate with soothing passages before the whole rages on again with sheer ferocity and gigantic wall-of-sound. It's obvious that these are experienced musicians, having earned their stripes with bands like Death Penalty, Serpentcult and Gorath.
If you're a fan of sludge, post-metal or doom, this definitely is something to get your hands on. With this record, Hemelbestormer confirms their rightful spot between Belgium's most praised bands, such as AmenRa, The Black Heart Rebellion and Sardonis, to name a few.
Serge
So when I noticed that there was a new album coming, I couldn't wait to get my hands on a copy. After all, Hemelbestormer is one of the most promising bands in the already packed Belgian scene. The only question remaining, at least for me, was: can they deliver the same intensity, atmosphere and brute power on this album as on stage? The answer:
Hell fucking yeah they can!!!
The power of Hemelbestormer is still massive on this two-track album. From the very beginning of 'Portal to the Universe' to the final sound of 'Portal III', this quartet grabs the listener's attention in a severe deathlock and drags him down into a continuous vortex of guitars, drums and soundscapes.
Monolithic riffs and haunting layers of sound alternate with soothing passages before the whole rages on again with sheer ferocity and gigantic wall-of-sound. It's obvious that these are experienced musicians, having earned their stripes with bands like Death Penalty, Serpentcult and Gorath.
If you're a fan of sludge, post-metal or doom, this definitely is something to get your hands on. With this record, Hemelbestormer confirms their rightful spot between Belgium's most praised bands, such as AmenRa, The Black Heart Rebellion and Sardonis, to name a few.
Serge