Herculean Death – Glory Of Death’s Triumph

Some two years ago I reviewed Herculean Death’s first EP, ‘Lost Hierarchy Of Dark Twisted Arts’ and reading back that one while listening to that particular EP and this follow-up album, I feel I have to correct myself a little. In that specific review I have more or less focussed a bit too much on the presence of drummer Jared Moran with his insane amount of active bands than was actually justified. In the meantime Moran left the band and Herculean Death is now the sole product of Finley “Cascadian Destroyer of Degenerate Hordes” Allan, and at this point, it isn’t even clear if Moran was a part of the band on that previous EP at all.

Having rectified that, we move on to ‘Glory Of Death’s Triumph’, this project’s most recent work of art, released on CD by Dark Adversary Productions. Although at least somewhere along the road Moran left the band, his departure didn’t mean much to the sound of Herculean Death, as the band’s distinctively raw yet atmospheric and melodic fingerprint has remained untouched throughout its entire discography.

In seven tracks, including a short intro, Allan again treats us to some magnificent and enchanting Black Metal that takes you along all aspects of the genre’s ravishing intensity. While the music can definitely be labelled “atmospheric” it is built out of the standard building blocks of guitars, bass, drums and vocals. Subsequently, the atmospheric energy that the music exudes is fully based on excellent song writing and memorable riffs. Remarkable is the bands balance between the more classic and traditional Scandinavian melodic and atmospheric Black Metal of the mid 90’s and a more contemporary take on the genre as heard through many a North American act. Mixing in the best of both it results in a tasty blend that has those rough and high pitched riffs that reminds of very early Borknagar or even Ulver as well as the repeating folky nature of what the current American Black Metal scene has to offer.

‘Glory Of Death’s Triumph’ is definitely a triumphant and glorious release that shows Herculean Death’s talent in fusing different angles into a swirling piece of Black Metal: a true testament to Allan’s terrific musical abilities.