Liturgy – Renihilation

Releasedate: 25-08-2009; Label: 20 Buck Spin
By: Sabine van Gameren

Liturgy is a New York based band that makes Black metal. Their first full length release is called “Renihilation”.

I often start reviews with the first thing that jumps in mind when hearing the record, followed by all what comes by further listening. In case of Liturgy I can be short about the first thought: “wow?!” Although the first song is just an introduction, as soon as the instruments start raging, there comes the surprise. Guitar riffs that are far from the Black metal standard, drums as fast as you get them are different than what you are used to when listening black metal. So much instrumental melancholy and melodic rage pressed into a Black metal album, that must be joke. Vocals are barely hearable, but hardly a factor in the music anyway. And it speaks for the band that these fill in perfectly, not distracting you when listening to beautiful raging instruments. It tends to touch the thought of ambient but it is different.

Liturgy works on a refreshing way and is exactly what the genre needs. A bit of experimenting, flirting with possibilities that other genres offer, “Renihilation” is one that will be played quite some times before it disappears in the collection.

Line Up:
Hunter Hunt-Hendrix – Guitar, Vocals
Bernard Gann – Guitar
Tyler Dusenbury – Bass
Greg Fox – Drums

Tracklist: 1. Untitled 2. Pagan Dawn 3. Mysterium 4. Untitled 5. Ecstatic Rite 6. Arctica 7. Untitled 8. Beyond The Magic Forest 9. Untitled 10. Behind The Void 11. Renihilation

Links:
Liturgy MySpace