FALL OV SERAFIM – Nex Lehovae

Fall Ov Serafim was born from the ashes of a Swedish band named Misteltein. The latter band had already released two full-length albums, Rape In Rapture (1999) and Divine. Desecrate. Complete (2001), when two band members decided to trademark the name Misteltein. This move displeased the rest of the band who decided to call it a day and go on to form Fall Ov Serafim with the addition of two new members to complete the line-up.

In the late summer of 2005, the freshly-formed band signed a record deal with Regain Records and finalized their plans for the first Fall Ov Serafim album.

If someone goes through the band’s biography, they will find out that Fall Ov Serafim moves around Symphonic Black Metal territory. Actually, this is not the whole truth; there are strong Death Metal elements too, from deep growls to cutting-edge guitar riffs. The song structure is sometimes so complicated (check Chuck Schuldiner’s (R.I.P.) avant-garde work with Death and Control Denied) that the label Progressive can also be used to describe the band’s musical character.

The dynamic album opener comes under the title “Towards the Throne of Tyranny.” The combination of fast Death Metal and Black Metal blast beats creates an explosive combination that gives way too some quality headbanging time!

The keyboards take the lead in “Purification” where some Dimmu Borgir influences are revealed, followed by tone-heavy guitars in the style of Morbid Angel. The tempo break somewhere near the end of this track proves that Fall Ov Serafim have worked a lot to create a more personal sound. “A Poisoning Blessing” is a genuine Symphonic Black Metal track with the characteristic keyboard rhythm section, the tormenting mid-neck snapping tempo, and the wide range of distorted/evil vocals.

The fast-pounding drums and the distinct Death Metal vocals can be found during the next track that is entitled “Hope Extinguished.” The complicated guitar leads and solos somewhere in the middle of the song can be labelled as confident steps towards Progressive Metal territory. “The Coming Conflict” is fast with a straightforward song structure that features both high speed drums and guitar rhythm section.

The composing potential of this Swedish band are expanded in “Carnival of Celestial Rape” that accounts for 9 minutes and comprises all of the aforementioned music elements, perfectly balancing Death and Black Metal sounds. The guitar work really shines in “Your Paradise Suffers,” with sophisticated fills and leads that merge perfectly with the keyboards.

Last, but not least, is another epic song, “Crowned in Malice.” A solid rhythm section, Classic Black Metal vocals, and a great deal of dark and blasphemous atmosphere to go with the lyrics describe this almost 8-minute final track.

Well, without question this is an impressive album that gains some extra points due to the flawless sound production that manages to exemplary combine the Death and Black Metal music elements “dressed” up in Progressive character.