There is a question that I always ask myself when I’m writing a review. I always ask what this band is right now showing me that makes it stand out from the crowd. At first sight this may sound pretty easy, however, when one has listened to more than two thousand albums the answer acquires some flairs of tragedy in it. First of all, there are some attitudes that I must avoid to set my mindset into a more open mode. One of them and the most important is to never look towards an album thinking I have heard it all. The other is to think there is nothing new in the world of Metal music. These attitudes destroy all possibilities of writing a honest review.
Ok, then, so what does Carnophage’s “Matter of a Darker Nature” have to offer to my dear fans?
First of all, “Matter of a Darker Nature” is an album of guitar riffs. The quality and versatility of guitar duo Mert Kaya and Serhat Kaya are really something that stands out. I also add quantity and by quantity I mean the incredible number of riffs they are able to put into a simple song. It’s an amazing sequence of awesome guitars and more guitars. So, this qualifies it to be considered an album of guitars. An album built to amaze guitar fans and many more fans, of course, because the guitars are the milestone and stapler of Metal music. Take opening track “In My Bones,” for instance, with its complex and dazzling opening guitar riff, Yeah, opening because I said before all songs are full of guitar riffs. I like a lot the kind of impressive mesmerizing effect this riff has. Regarding the guitar work in the album it’s also possible to say it’s also an album of guitar licks. Here Carnophage thought them to be a bridge among all riffs.
Second of all, while listening to “Until the Darkness Kills the Light” for the third time I could notice all the shifts in tempo and cadence “Matter of a Darker Nature” is made of. Here Carnophage change the tempo all the time making the song something very hallucinotic. The fan may get dizzy with all the ups and downs of speed here. Add to that the intricate guitar playing and drumming as drummer Onur Özçelik does an incredible work here as well following all the hypnotic movements his peers imprint in any song of the album.
I’m sure my dear chlid of the night will appreciate “Matter of a Darker Nature.”
Carnophage “Matter of a Darker Nature” will be released on August 02nd via Transcending Obscurity Records.
Track Listing:
- In My Bones
- Until the Darkness Kills the Light
- Matter of a Darker Nature
- Underneath the Horrendous One
- Death Works Overtime
- Eventually They Will Die
- The Day We Avenge on
- From Possibility to Actuality
Watch “Underneath the Horrendous One” official lyric video here:
I’m just a lucky guy who has chosen metal to live with for a long time. Metal changed my life for good. It made me more confident and stronger. Metalheads are naturally far away from the mass mediocrity and don’t accept impostures from anybody else. Metal is more than music, it’s a life changing oportunity!