In Reverence - The Selected Breed (EN)

The Swedish In Reverence release their long player debut "The Selected Breed" these days after one demo (2011) and one EP (2012). Indeed, nearly 34 minutes duration is not exactly a long player for today's standards but what ultimately counts is the music and as long as it's alright, it isn't so tragic. However, don't let you get mislead by the genre category Atmospheric Death because it still crashes in your face.

The opener "Jahiliah" starts with acoustic guitar sounds and a dark atmospheric tone. It is followed by trembling guitars and the drums. They uphold the atmospheric touch before Death Metal riffing and powerful drums take command. In addition, there are dark aggressive growls that let the song evolve into heavy Death Metal. The reason for variety is not the only the musical orientation but also the tempo changes and the breaks. In the following "Gods Of Dehumanization" they gather speed twice. Black Metal-like screams help to increase the variety in addition to the already mentioned features.

Actually, one get's a thrill of speed in the title song "The Selected Breed" as it fires off Death Metal riffs and rapid fires on the drums. Even here they know to remove the monotony with tempo changes and slightly atmospheric final parts.

Despite Death Metal dissonances there are certain rates of melodies in the songs that are discreet interspersed frequently without being a dominant element. One can listen to it in songs like "The Sixt Bloodletting" (for my taste it is the most diverse song) or perhaps "Athropgeny". In the last one Doom-like riffing is also used just like in "Gift Of Desinetration". The last acoustic instrumental "Life Rejuvenate" finalizes the album and brings again the atmospheric aspect of the album to light.

Unfortunately the songs are too predictable in spite of variety and the use of different stylistic elements. At the latest after the third song the listener is hardly surprised and the instruments overlap too often as well. Death Metal dissonances forwards and backwards, sometimes less is still more in the end.

However, one cannot grumble about the overall sound that is lovely obscurely. Everything thunders with a good power out of the speakers and give the whole a great earthy sound.

Conclusion:
"The selected Breed" is a well-done debut of the Swedish expect for the short duration. It definitely shows the potential of the band which allows to hope to listen more of them. Certainly it should then crack the 45 minutes. It is obligatory to listen to it for all Death Metaler which want to hear more than only dead thrashing.

Rating: 7/10

Recommendation: Jahiliah, The Selected Breed, The Sixth Bloodletting