Grand Demise Of Civilization - The Blaze of Abaddon

Grand  Demise Of Civilization is a black metal band from Minnesota who formed in 2008.  “The Blaze of Abaddon,” is their fourth full-length album. 

This is my first experience with their brand of blackened atrocities but I am impressed.  Their sound is very dark, grim, and about as aggressive sounding as one could imagine.  However, it is also surprisingly melodic, at least in their own way.  The melodies aren’t happy or jaunty but instead a dull light that gives way to false hopes.   The melding of their aggression and melody lends the album an unique atmosphere that is both hellish and expansive.  

The production is just raw enough to coat their music in an appropriate amount of bleakness but the mixing is superb–every instrument can be heard, including the bass which is all too often drowned out in black metal. 

At a runtime of 50 minutes at six tracks, the album is long enough to reveal all its depth but not so long that it wears out its welcome.  Although they obviously share the same elements, every track sounds different enough from the others to keep the pacing and flow smooth, considering how extreme the album is.  

The classic approach of using tremolo is, of course, featured throughout the album but that isn't the only basis the band provides for their black metal.  The songs are riff based with plenty of changes among the notes.  Tempos vary as well–mostly lighting fast but slower, more introspective parts are peppered throughout.  I’ll speak of some highlights of the album below.

The journey begins with “Redeemer of Wrath,” as the music grows into the foreground.  Before the one minute mark has passed, the song is full of raging, encompassing drums and sorrow-tinged guitar riffs.  As the lead guitar rises the action, the bass peaks out from behind the chaos.  The vocals, which are mostly blackened shrieks, push the song into overdrive just as melody arrives for what could be respite but only serves to further the song’s urgency. 

The band isn’t afraid to to include atmospheric touches, as evident around the the 6:16 mark where subtle keyboards lace the guitar riffs.  The ethereal blanket pairs well with the thunderous double bass, offering a duality that manages to compliment each other.  The guitar solo is clever and helps lead the song back into its more chaotic waters.

“Silencer,” features the aforementioned slower tempo.  The bass and drums provide a deep intro that recalls the silent approach of some monstrous entity.  The trepidation grows until the vocals hit, bringing full blown fear along.  The bass and drums do a fantastic job in filling up the liminal spaces—I review with decent headphones and I felt like the band was playing right next to me.  

The song barrels ever forth for the next few minutes but around the 5:37 mark, the bass and lead guitar swirl together to launch the song into an exciting movement that switches back and forth between rumbling movements of depravity and melodic passages. 

The final song, “The Consequence,” is one of the more intense songs on the album, at least parts of it.  After opening in a slower tempo for nearly a minute, it turns into an absolute powerhouse, unleashing all the nastiest demons.  The middle part gets frenzied to the extreme with the short but gripping guitar solo.  The song ends in a surprising twist, fading out to a almost beautiful clean outro.

Grand Demise Of Civilization’s “The Blaze of Abaddon,” is an engaging take on black metal that that include enough dynamics to make it one of the more interesting black metal albums; it is extreme and against the grain but doesn't stand in its own way.