Album
Type: Full Length
Date
Released: 5/9/2014
Label:
Cyclone Empire
‘Abhorrence in
Opulence’ CD/LP track listing:
1. Disquisition Of The Burning (14:54)
2. Among The Falling Stones (12:53)
3. A Waltz Perverse (09:16)
4. Somnolent Despondency (11:52)
5. Resurrectum (11:49)
Bio:
OPHIS [greek: serpent] was founded in the German harbour city of Hamburg
in late 2001, as an outlet for its members very own darker sides: an abyssic immersion
of slow monolithic Doom Metal and raw, nihilistic and staggering old school
Death Metal.
The band steadily became a solid institution among Doom-fans worldwide, collecting
a loyal following by constantly playing live all over Europe. After the release
of their debut album “Stream of Misery” in 2007, OPHIS toured with Pantheist
and Skepticism. Their sophomore record “Withered Shades” (2010)
was praised by the press as one of the best Death/Doom records of the
past decade and even won the 2nd place in Metalstorm’s “best extreme Doom album
award”, and followed by a tour alongside Ahab and Esoteric.
Recently, Cyclone Empire re-released the debut album and the first EP as
a compilation entitled “Effigies of Desolation”, which was accompanied by yet another
European tour, this time with Evoken.
OPHIS is musically rooted in the early 90s, yet NOT a retro band, as they
push their musical progress onward with every release. This tension grants
OPHIS their own niche in a scene dominated by trends, which the band always
refused to follow. Lyrically OPHIS are – unusual for a Doom band – observers of
society, sometimes even with political undertones. But also personal lyrics dealing
with the inner struggles of the members can be found.
The Band:
Phil | guitar, vocals
Martin | guitar
Olly | bass
Nils | drums
Review:
Doom/death
straight out of the den of iniquity that is Hamburg, Ophis bring the noise from
the off. Having been around for well over a decade, these boys know their
business. ‘Disquisition of The Burning’
is slow moving and all distorted bass and sludgy guitar work. The vocals are of
the Hooded Menace doom school- low and slow. Some nice double tracking with a
higher screech can be heard too and this adds to the expansive sound. The track
is nearly fifteen minutes long and this sets the standard for what follows.
‘Among The Falling Stones’ is mournful
and melancholy as well as being hate filled to the brim. The album is starting
to develop into a real misanthropic delight at this point. At nearly thirteen
minutes, there is a lot of room for some chugging riff play along with
discordant melodies and crawling despair.
‘A Waltz Perverse’ has a clean
guitar intro before things get really filthy over its nine minutes plus length.
The track has some faster sections and pinch harmonics here and there to ring
the changes. This is positively speedy compared to the earlier tracks. The feel
of Dragged Into Sunlight springs (or crawls or slithers) to mind- horrifying
stuff for sure!
‘Somnolent Despondency’ sounds just
like the title- eerie and mournful while being panoramic in sound and scope.
Good solo, too. Listening through this track is an endurance test in itself. It
is relentlessly bleak and hostile. Bravo, Ophis, bravo...
‘Resurrectum’ delivers the coup de grace of this
aural execution. It is a slow burner (no surprise, there) and builds up nicely
with some glowering guitar work that gets heavier and then heavier again. The
bass sound is a joy (in a way) throughout- low and dirty with the right amount
of distortion. There are some cool rhythmical motifs on display here and double
bass drums where they need to be.
No
doubt about it, Ophis are masters of their craft. Veteran misanthropes serving
up a cold main course of hatred. A fine and bleak album; perfect for the slide
towards winter.
Words by: Richard Maw
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