Immolation - Descent (2026)^{Release ID: 67740}

Since I found my way to the Horde and I finally got to grips with death metal, Immolation have been a band that stood out to me as being something a bit special. Not special in an innovative, envelope-pushing way, but in a truly-getting-it, well-oiled machine kind of way. Their songwriting chops are unbelievably good and although they don't strive to break new ground, they always manage to make their tracks interesting and vital and seem to unerringly hit the spot with me. It often feels like they tap into an earthiness that feels redolent with the iron scent of spilled battlefield blood and which has the ability to make this old man feel properly alive and alert to the endless incoming of lethal death metal riffs and the hot shrapnel of searing solos. They are also incredibly consistent and while some of their releases may be genuine standouts, I haven't yet heard an Immolation album I didn't enjoy. The last couple, "Atonement" and "Acts of God" were really solid efforts that once more gave me enough of a fix to carry me through until the next one came out, but in "Descent" I think they may have turned in their best work for quite some time, an album able to sit comfortably beside "Close to a World Below" or "Unholy Cult".

The production is crisp and clear and allows the band to showcase how tight they are, allowing perfect expression of the brutality of the riffs and rhythm section. The drums in particular seem really well recorded, the kicks, snares, toms and cymbals all perfectly distinguishable and seeming to come at the listener from all angles, surrounding them in a percussive straightjacket that holds them in place while the riffs pummel the shit out of them. I love filthy-sounding, abyssal, old-school shit above almost all other styles of death metal, but Immolation achieve a similar effect on me with a clarity and precision normally employed by more technically-focussed acts that speaks volumes for their ability to generate a brutally evil atmosphere by sheer skill, not having to turn to production tricks to achieve it or to hide technical deficits.

So, a question I am sure many will ask is "do Immolation do anything new on "Descent"?" Well, no, but what they do do they do better than virtually anybody else, so does that mean you should listen to this? Abso-fuckin'-lutely it does. Is it better than their first five albums? No, not really, but if they aren't to hand or you now know them so well you can replay them in your sleep, then "Descent" will give you a fresh take on an old friend and should satisfy your craving for quality no-frills death metal.

At this point in their thirty-eight-year reign, Immolation can almost do no wrong. Whilst they may have had periods of inferior output (Kingdom of Conspiracy, Majesty & Decay), I can think of few bands of such long-established activity who’s output I look forward to. Descent continues this tradition of the Yonkers crew once again creating another distinctive sounding record that is immediately identifiable as their signature sound, backed up with their deft song writing skills and seemingly undying passion for this artform that they have epitomised for so long. It would be very easy for Immolation to sound a little jaded if not downright tired by now. However, whilst not a flawless record, their twelfth studio album shows no lack of energy and no signs of the battery levels even starting to diminish.

Perhaps one of the most consistent death metal legends of recent years, Immolation have made another assured sounding album. The line up of Ross, Robert, Alex and Steve has been stable now for three records now and you can almost feel the unity across these tracks. Great production also helps of course, and the mix here is kind to all elements of the instrumentation with Steve’s drums coming off best in my experience. Those dancing, swarming, and urgent riffs perform their dizzying deeds as always, with that keen ear for marauding melody getting a lot of room to shine also. Ross’ vocals are satisfyingly beastly, without suffering from the artificial edge to them that haunted the bands previous album, Acts of God. Indeed, the only element that is lost here is the bass, which is hardly rare in death metal anyways. Dan Lilker makes another guest vocal appearance on a couple of tracks, just as he did on the previous album.

Once again using the striking artwork of Eliran Kantor, the image that adorns the album cover of an angel immolating into the fiery depths of Hell (perhaps) is a good representation of the content that lies in the album itself. The sacrifice she appears to be making (or be forced to make) appears to have the perfect soundtrack in the instrumental track, ‘Banished’. For once, I find an instrumental track that is not overbearing and is placed in a sensible position on the record as the palate cleanser before the title and closing track. If you have enjoyed any album from Immolation in the last nine years, then Descent will not disappoint you. Whilst there is always an element of predictability to an Immolation record, for now that still presents as familiarity and I still find their sound to be one of the more unique in death metal still.