Album Review: Ominous Shrine – Ο Δρόμος Της Αποθεώσεως (Goathorned Productions)

The debut album from Ominous Shrine, Ο Δρόμος Της Αποθεώσεως is a journey through ancient occult sensibilities within a blackened metal sound. The album was released on July 1st 2017 via Goathorned Productions.

An immersive intro is followed by the intense ferociousness of V.I.T.R.I.O.L. The primal energy drips from every riff, every drum beat, every hook & every roar. While extremely aggressive in stance, it’s structured pace makes it incredibly listenable.

Being only 7 songs long (6 really as the first is just an intro), Ominous Shrine manage to pack Ο Δρόμος Της Αποθεώσεως with so many moments that will leave you open-mouthed it’s almost unreal.

The battering that V.I.T.R.I.O.L delivers with its unrelenting drum beat, the desperately hungry sounding vocals of Katabasis & the darkened doom riffs of Macrocosme.

The penultimate track, Ascension Extatique is initially unexceptional. It stops & starts, only really hitting its groove when a deep chugging riff takes over during a mid-point change in direction. It’s short lived though returning to a less interesting, faster paced style that doesn’t excite.

However, Ain Soph Aur ends the album on a high. A doomy, introspective high. Nearly 7 minutes of nasty, evil sounding riffs that drip sludge. Mixed with insane flashes of heaviness, it’s an eye-opening finish.

An album that requires several listens to really take it all on board. Dark, moody & extremely heavy. Ο Δρόμος Της Αποθεώσεως is a record that will leave you feeling as though the light has been extinguished.

Ominous Shrine – Ο Δρόμος Της Αποθεώσεως Full Track Listing:

1. Intro
2. V.I.T.R.I.O.L
3. Katabasis
4. Stase
5. Macrocosme
6. Ascension Extatique
7. Ain Soph Aur

You can stream & buy the album over on Bandcamp here. Also check out the band over on Facebook!