Album Review: Summoning The Lich – Under the Reviled Throne (Prosthetic Records)

St. Louis, MI based fantasy inspired technical death metallers Summoning the Lich are back with their sophomore album, ‘Under the Reviled Throne’. Continuing to draw influence from the worlds of Dungeon and Dragons, Magic the Gathering and, in the case of ‘Under the Reviled Throne’, Star Wars’ The Empire Strikes Back, Summoning the Lich’s new album finds the band’s own fictional world of Arrias under existential threat. The album is set for release on July 26th, 2024, via Prosthetic Records.

Spewing up death metal fire and fury with a sharp technical edge and built on the foundations of fantasy, Under the Reviled Throne sees Summoning the Lich begin to break away from the pack with an album of consistent quality extreme metal anthems. Spending the first thirty seconds building anticipation for something visceral with Return to the Soil, Summoning the Lich don’t just meet expectations with a crunchy chaotic explosion, they go even further with something that will make your eyes water, your ears bleed, and your stomach churn.

It, the following Reviled Crystal Wielders, and The Forest Feasts can be summed up as a trio of fast, furious, and feral sounding tracks. The belligerent heaviness and technical intensity might overpower much of the fantastical aspects, but Summoning the Lich are still exceptionally adept at layering in tons of wicked atmosphere.

Those first few tracks should tell you all you need to know about this album, but if you need further proof than the gnarly sound of My Horrors Unending will deliver. It’s a beast of a track that showcases instrumental chaotic power and freakish vocals, while almost being catchy.

Then, along comes 91-seconds of dark melody with Batell Dirge, before some of the harshest instrumentals and most brutalising vocals so far arrives with The Carrion Fleet. Summoning the Lich continue to find new horrible depths to plumb, and even more savagery to expel with Arrias Groans, Will to Survive, and Potion Seller. There’s very little in the way of let up here, and each track comes with so much indignation, it can be startling. Even when they layer in some atmosphere, as that aspect just helps enhance the fantastical nature of the music.

The album blazes by in surprisingly quick fashion, even though it’s far from a short release. The enjoyability of monstrous instrumentals and horrifying vocals ensures there’s nothing to get bored with here. The album ends as it begun, with thick, mean, and ferocious sounding technical death metal, except the listener will likely be even more invested. Two more mentally wrecking bangers, two more twisted listens, and two more lovable bouts of nauseating brutality. It’s The Void Gate and Praise to the Bog, and they both ensure this album goes out with a massive bang.

Summoning the Lich – Under the Reviled Throne Track Listing:

1. Return To The Soil
2. Reviled Crystal Wielders
3. The Forest Feasts
4. My Horrors Unending
5. Bastell Dirge
6. The Carrion Fleet
7. Arrias Groans
8. Will To Survive
9. Potion Seller
10. The Void Gate
11. Praise To The Bog

Links

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