Album Review: Dimholt – Epistēmē (Self Released)
Active since 2003, the Bulgarian black metal band Dimholt have just released their second full-length album entitled ‘Epistēmē’.
Drawing from the cold lands of the their Scandinavian forefathers, Dimholt are very much a band inspired by the old-school side of black metal. However, on Epistēmē they also make it clear that they aren’t going to be handcuffed by that. Made all the more obvious once the rough and evil sounding Death Comes First is out of the way.
It’s then we get black metal rhythmic heaven (or hell) with the excellent Into Darker Serenity. The noisemakers bringing icy cold winds of black metal heaviness powered by excellent riffs and a thrilling beat. It’s the first proper showcase of Dimholt’s ever-growing power and few won’t be sold immediately.
The confident approach Dimholt have ensures Sacrilege’s hefty and scarring hooks don’t go unnoticed. Whereas The Martyr’s Congregation is pain and suffering exemplified by a band more then willing to dish out the punishment. The vocals are at their most gurgling here.
It’s very much black metal and very enjoyable in its rawness. Perhaps so because it’s clearly purposeful rawness, Dimholt knowing what to bring and how to bring it as they prove on the exceedingly good Nether and the solid brutality of The Fall. Two tracks that you wouldn’t want to meet in a dark alley.
Having already spat out so much black metal nastiness, it can’t go unsaid that Epistēmē is a long one. Ten tracks and over an hour long, the relentless tempo is unforgiving and the next couple of tracks get increasingly longer. This does mean the likes of The Hollow Man and Scars of Seclusion perhaps don’t have the same bite as the earlier stuff. Both high quality black metal savagery playing out with all the vigour Dimholt have shown so far. However, like getting repeatedly whipped, eventually it all goes numb and you lose consciousness.
Reliquae and Aletheia might be the sharp stings to bring you back round though. The former is the longest track and pushes everything to the limit. Whereas the latter sees Dimholt effortlessly send forth a vomitous spray of increasingly intense bleakness.
Dimholt – Epistēmē Full Track Listing:
1. Death Comes First
2. Into Darker Serenity
3. Sacrilege
4. The Martyr’s Congregation
5. Nether
6. The Fall
7. The Hollow Man
8. Scars of Seclusion
9. Reliquae
10. Aletheia
Links
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Dimholt - Epistēmē (Self Released)
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The Final Score - 8/10
8/10