ALBUM REVIEW: Defacing God – The Resurrection of Lilith



 

Hailing from the land of Hans Christian Andersen, Vikings and Lego, Danish melodic death metal act Defacing God exist in the world of witchcraft and the occult, their debut album The Resurrection of Lilith (Napalm Records) a monstrous slab of European extremity with a heavily symphonic touch.

Formed in 2015, the five piece from Aalborg may have only released a couple of singles previous to this year but the confidence and authority shown on their first full length release is nothing short of startling. Opening with short introduction ‘Black Moon’ the evocative instrumental builds to a sonorous crescendo before the real fun begins with the fast paced eruption of ‘The Invocation Part I “Lilith”. Dramatic and explosive but allowed room to breathe, singer Sandie Gjørtz sounds like the hellish offspring of former Arch Enemy vocalist Angela Gossow, and Shagrath from Dimmu Borgir, the latter act’s penchant for dramatic orchestration definitely an influence on the Danish act as well as nods to the likes of Cradle of Filth and Chthonic.

 

‘The Resurrection’, ‘The Invocation Part II “Jezebel”’ and ‘The Invocation Part III “Abyzou”’ all grab you by the throat with surges of cinematic blackened metal, thrash and mid-paced groove bolstered by powerful choral backing. Opening with a menacing crawl, ‘Rise of the Trinity’ brings Arch Enemy and Cradle of Filth to mind once again and features, like many other tracks, a striking melodic solo from lead guitarist Signar Petersen.

 

‘The End of Times’ features some excellent work from bassist Rasmus “Kalke” Nielsen while ‘Echoes From Fulda’ and ‘Death Followed Like a Plague’ are infernally catchy expulsions of raw energy, methodical stomps giving way to further outbursts of orchestrated rage as rhythm guitarist Christian Snapholt Nielsen urges them on. ‘Enslaved’ is a jagged, slashing beast while drummer Michael Olsson gets his turn in the spotlight on the pummelling ‘In the Land of Rain and Sorrow’ before the record builds to a powerfully chaotic conclusion with ‘Into the Mist of Memories’.

Brimming with portentous riffs, thunderous grooves, insistent hooks and haunting orchestrations, it’s often hard to believe The Resurrection of Lilith is still the band’s full debut. Gjørtz explores a wide range of harsh vocal styles, the guitar work is assured and skilful and the orchestrations are employed with the right amount of dominance and subtlety.

Wearing their influences plainly on their sleeve, Defacing God play blackened symphonic death metal and do it like seasoned professionals.

 

Buy the album here: https://www.napalmrecordsamerica.com/defacinggod

 

8 / 10

GARY ALCOCK