CD Review: Evocation - Illusion Of Grandeur

Written by Ricarda Menn Tuesday, 09 October 2012 07:51

Artist: Evocation
Title: Illusion Of Grandeur
Genre: (Melodic) Death Metal
Release Date: 21st September 2012
Label: Century Media Records

Album Review

EVOCATION are a Swedish Death Metal band, founded in 1991,dissembled in 1993 and reassembled in 2005. Their first demo records from 1992 are very influencing and shortly after the rerelease of those in ‘Evoked From Demonic Depths – The Early Years’ (2012), the band put out their fourth studio record ‘Illusion Of Grandeur’. The first full length record ‘Tales From The Tomb’ is from 2007 and nowadays, EVOCATION play a rather melodic variant of Death Metal.

The opener and title track ‘Illusion Of Grandeur’ already pinpoints a strong resemblance from EVOCATION to AMON AMARTH: harsh riffs are combined with forceful and almost epic-sounding melodies. The vocals are deep growls and the overall speed varies between up-tempo parts and slower, guitar-driven elements. In general, the song structures include epic phrases, interesting rhythms and catchy choruses. The sound is somehow typical for Scandinavian, especially Swedish Melodic Death Metal, EVOCATION are modern without using breakdowns, yet ‘Divide And Conquer’ begins with a electronic intro, that somehow creates a dark and more gothic-suitable impression. It reoccurs also in the chorus, a slow chanting of the title’s lines.

‘Perception Of Reality’ is rather Thrash Metal influenced and does not lack melody, although the overall tone of this track is monotonous and harsh. ‘I’ll Be Your Suicide’ is the shortest track on ‘Illusion Of Grandeur’ and includes a grooving, single-start chorus as well as a demanding guitar solo. ‘Into Submission’ is again a bit more brutal. Yet, the sounds are all on the same level, there are no real surprises or lacks in quality. Their earlier demos are, in fact, more Traditional Old School Death Metal and their style nowadays is very modern, melodic and not really revolutionary. This does not mean that their music is bad, since it surely is rewarded with good feedback. Yet, the fact that they sound so similar to AMON AMARTH is a bit disappointing, since a own style is necessary to stick out among many other bands. Fans of Old School Death Metal better stay away, while admirers of Melodic and energetic Death Metal will find their liking in this album, even though it lacks innovation and uniqueness.


Tracklist

01. Illusions Of Grandeur 04:08
02. Well Of Despair 04:26
03. Divide And Conquer 05:20
04. Perception Of Reality 04:26
05. Metus Odium 04:24
06. I’ll Be Your Suicide 02:57
07. Crimson Skies 04:07
08. Into Submission 03:35
09. The Seven Faces Of God 04:53
10. Final Disclosure 03:52


Line-up

Thomas Josefsson – Vocals
Marko Palmén – Guitars
Vesa Kenttäkumpu – Guitars
Janne K. Bodén – Drums
Gustaf Jorde – Bass


Website

www.evocation.se / www.facebook.com/evocationswe


Cover Picture




Rating

Music: 7
Sound: 8
Extras: -
Total: 7.5 / 10