Erimha – Reign Through Immortality


Erimha-album-coverVictory Records used to sign hardcore bands. The rank-and-file of artists wanting to sign on Victory, enormous at one time, now not so much, but great acts like Integrity and Madball once filled up the discography. Now, the label decides to throw their clenched fist into the ring, signing Montreal act Erimha, a band whose brand of symphonic black metal can best be described as lackluster Dimmu Borgir worship, rife with “epic” keyboard leads and furious double bass patterns. Their album, Reign Through Immortality (Victory Records), succeeds in technical ability but lacks in almost every other category.

Erimha has musical talent, and it clearly shows on certain tracks like ‘Metaphysic Countenance’. A slower, more melodic track, the keyboards build up “epic” atmosphere, which is clearly the direction the band wants to go in. Other tracks like ‘Ascetic’ contain the wide range of technical ability, but overall the production is something that falls miserably short. The guitar riffs are drowned out, marred by the incessant need for keyboard tracks and the ruthlessly commanding drums. The standard death metal growls are there; each track contains the same cookie-cutter bellows, leaving a feeling of all-too-familiar played out-ness.

When the riffs actually hit, however, that’s where Erimha shines. Their fretwork is on display on ‘Bewildering Nightmare’ and ‘Cataclysmic Tides’. But of course, if the other tracks are any indication, the favoring of keyboard leads and drum tracking are much, much more important than silly old riffs. Metal, in its purest form, is driven by the riff. Interesting, intertwining riffs make for music that moves the listener. Reign Through Immortality is chock full of said riffs, except they give them no room to breathe. Instead of trying to create this blackest-of-black atmosphere, it should be spent making music around these riffs, not trying to drown them out with poor production and overuse of keyboards. The last track, ‘Metempsychosis’, comes too late to the party; it’s full of nice solos and ferocity. But at ten minutes in length and with the overproduction, everything sounds muddled and put together just to elongate the album.

Erimha can be a band that makes interesting symphonic black metal, but they aren’t. Instead, they are a band with talent whose middling ideas of songwriting think it’s going to cut it. Layers of overproduction, too many glowing keyboard leads, and the over-the-top atmosphere make for music that is uninspiring. Some of the tracks are palatable, but overall Erimha rips from the pages of already established and done-to-death symphonic metal bands and tries to pass it off as their own.

4/10

Bill Haff

Erimha – Facebook