ALTAR OF OBLIVION Sign With Shadow Kingdom Records, Tracklist Of Forthcoming Album revealed
Posted on Wednesday, April 08, 2009 at 02:40:22 EST
Shadow Kingdom Records has issued the following press release:
"ALTAR OF OBLIVION, a brand new epic heavy metal band with doom touches has emerged from the great Denmark. I received their demo in 2007 and was blown away by the potential this band had. Martin (guitarist/songwriter) has a really unique riffing style that I love. The riffs are really catchy, heavy, and choppy (for lack of a better word). When you finally get used to his guitar playing you’ll find out it’s a signature sound that he developed. The combination of the epic styled songwriting with some really subtle doom-y sections mixed with the very young, talented, and uniquely distinct Mik on vocals puts this band to the top of the epic heavy/doom metal scene. If you liked the demo at all (by the way, 'Wrapped In Ruins' is again featured on this new album) the new album is definitely were you would have wanted the band to be by this time because the songwriting has exceeded the expectation. This album is a full-on conceptual, emotional trip about the pain, suffering, and horrors of war. With that in mind, expect nothing but crushing riffs filled with sorrow, despair, and with powerful vocals with so much emotion, depending on your mood might bring a tear to your eye.
Altar Of Oblivion are keeping the epic doom torch a flame that was started by the great and well respected bands like CANDLEMASS, SOLSTICE, SOLITUDE AETURNUS, REVELATION, TROUBLE, etc."
The tracklist of the new album is as follows: 'The Final Pledge', 'Wrapped In Ruins', 'Behind The Veil Of Nights', 'My Pinnacle Of Power', 'A Retreat Into Delusions', 'Casus Belli', 'Stainless Steel', 'Sinews Of Anguish'.
i am happy to say i recorded 2 flute solos for this cd.. and hope all the metal friends check it out.. :) rhscheryl nyc
http://earthdogsvisionsofdoom.blogspot.com/2009/06/altar-of-oblivion-sinews-of-anguish.html..
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..Anybody here old enough to remember the early 80's if you wanted to play real Epic Doom Metal it meant you really had some real class in your playing.Some of that finesse has gone out of the Metal scene in the last last decade but bands like "Altar Of Oblivion" are one band that all the qualities of a classy Doom Metal act of the 80's.Think part "Trouble","Candlemass",Solitude Aeturnus" and throw in some "Revelation" and you get somewhere close to where this great Danish band are coming from.Mind-blowing guitar work features throughout the entire album all mixed some of the most emotional vocal work done by singer "Mik",who has so much talent it is a pure inspiration to hear this dude's vocals soar."Martin's guitar work has a unique edge to it and the riffs are so catchy and filled with passion.Simply put this a very 80's sounding album but it is not of the dated variety.This sounds real fresh and add the majestic songwriting skills of this band and you have one incredible piece of classic Epic Doom Metal.Anybody who heard their demo would know the potential of the band but not many people would have expected such a emotional Metal Rollercoaster ride that "Altar Of Oblivion" have delivered here.8 tracks and 8 total winners,this is one complete piece of conceptual Heavy Doom Metal.One of the early picks for best album of 2009.9.5/10..
http://www.hellridemusic.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=20163..
another great review for the new cd :) congrats to martin and the band .. and so happy to be a part of this project -flute mistress of epic doom metal ..rhsc
...... ......Reviews...... - Altar of Oblivion – Sinews of Anguish....
.................. 06-07-2009, 03:00 PM ............Altar of Oblivion - ..Sinews of Anguish.. (Shadow Kingdom)
..By ......Mike Ballue......
June 7, 2009....
..Altar of Oblivion’s demo attracted some attention in the doom metal underground a couple of years ago and now courtesy of Shadow Kingdom Records we have the debut full length Sinews of Anguish. Right from the opening minute of “The Final Pledge” the stand alone uniqueness of Altar of Oblivion’s approach to epically themed and structured heavy/doom metal is quite apparent. The guitar work from Martin Mendelssohn and Allan Larsen has both a feel of choppy, urgent intensity and a hauntingly beautiful and moving melodic authority. The vocals, while the work of one man Mik Mentor, are multi-dimensional in their weaving on this dark tale of WWII despair, disillusionment and death, at times bringing to mind anything from monks proclaiming doom in a chant to a tortured spirit’s confession howled from beyond the void. This effect can be so profound that at times you would swear that there is more than one vocalist involved here.
This is a difficult album to review in any kind of track by track fashion as there is a continuity of both theme and style that cements the entirety of Sinews of Anguish into a cohesive and powerful representation of the concept behind it. Demo track “Wrapped in Ruins” fits in so perfectly that it has me wondering if it were not the birth track, so to speak, of the concept. Throughout this disc the attention to detail in the songwriting is breath taking, serving to highlight both the compositional strengths and excellent performances. Melodic themes weave through the song structures, vocal work, rhythm work and lead work, highlighting different aspects and presenting different permutations. The rhythm section deserves a solid show of appreciation for doing a spot on job of propelling and supporting the melodic might of the guitars and vocals. The highly ambitious nature of the parts at the forefront could have easily crumbled without the rock solid and thunderous support they get here.
The guitar work is something to behold. There is a Schenker-esque searing melodic edged tone to a lot of the solos that provides perfect counterpoint to the chunky and urgent riffing. The ability to achieve dramatic impact through the placement of leads in the songs and through the performance of those leads is unceasing and at times truly moves into the realm of the genius, two examples being the section launching about 7 minutes and twenty seconds into “My Pinnacle of Power” which manages to demonstrate a fiery explosiveness and also the perfect restraint and the last minute and a half of “Casus Belli” where a lead goes from wailing melodic intensity to skittering over the thunder like a stainless steel spider across a glass web and back to searing simplicity. Perfection in placement and execution is damn near a sub theme of this album when it comes to guitar work.
The uniqueness of the vocals has a powerful immediacy and Mr. Mentor does an admirable job of conveying the stifling and pervasive darkness, hopelessness and pain that are the heart of the concept story without ever becoming maudlin or affected. The overall effect of all the parts coming together on this album is truly stunning and becomes more and more so with every listen. Despite having a powerful first listen effect, the term “grower” absolutely applies to Sinews of Anguish, as on repeated listens new facets are continuously revealed and the power and majesty of the whole seem to swell and grow. This has a hell of a lot of maturity for a debut album.
The packaging is grade A as we’ve come to expect from Shadow Kingdom. The cover art is amazing and complimentary of the music and the story to a degree rarely seen. Not a single downside to this release in sight, unless you count the fact that the negative emotions and the very real sense of doom are so effectively transmitted that the psychologically weak could be annihilated by it. An absolute classic, I have no doubt this one will stand the test of time. Congratulations to the band for a massive accomplishment and to Shadow Kingdom for another jewel in the crown of what just may be the best year a metal label has ever had.
.... Purchase ........Sinews of Anguish ........at the ......Hellride Music Superstore ........
............ Visit the Altar of Oblivion website at ......www.myspace.com/altarofoblivion......................
The best of the lot has to be Denmark’s ......Altar of Oblivion......, who come out swinging with their ..Sinews Of Anguish.. debut. This eight track concept record strikes all of the right epic metal chords in its delivery, and proves that the genre can indeed be well represented in 2009, without having to resort to 80s nostalgia or po-faced cheese to appeal to the elitist masses. Indeed, the riffs and emotive leads of guitarists Martin Mendelssohn and Allan Larsen smoke with greased lightning accuracy, and can appeal just as much to your modern metal fan, as they can to your shaggy-headed ......Cirith Ungol...... obsessive. The soaring vocals of Mik Mentor could prove a problem for those not raised in the Mausoleum/ Metal Blade axe logo generation, but for those of us who lovingly look back on this genre’s formative years, ..Sinews Of Anguish.. will feel like a fist-pumping stroll down memory lane.http://www.blistering.com/fastpage/fpengine.php/link/1/templateid/16454/tempidx/5/menuid/3
another great review :)
http://www.heavymetalpt.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1300&Itemid=77http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9cBtW5iuFE