Groza - The Redemptive End Review

Finally I got what the term post-Black Metal means. When a reviewer or critic refer to it the fan must expect a song mostly with some minimalistic features. In the average, it also means few distortion in the guitars, almost no guitar solos, slow or, if the fan will, that shoegazed cadence that passes the feeling that everybody in the band is bored to death. Or that the band, in this specific case Groza, uses some 1980s gothic rock features where the guitars are overwhelmed by the bass. I’ll elaborate a bit more. The guitars generally use a clean or almost clean chordly riffing or high-tuned guitar phrasings with the rhythm guitars using few distortion in a low volume. Sometimes the lead is done using some strumming. Pretty much what Sisters of Mercy used to do, but with a gutural vocal. Exactly what the fan will find in “Elegance of Irony” whose tittle, by the way, means a lot. Irony is always elegant if you understand it.

Groza with “The Redemptive End” follow some of aforementioned features, not all of them, I must say. For instance, it’s hard for an extreme Metal fan to bear the intro of first track “Sunken in Styx – Part I: Submersion” which is too slow, too band bored, a song that takes some real time to catch the feeling of Extreme Metal. To be sad is one thing, I really understand that feeling, however Extreme Metal requires much more than sadness. It requires anger, despair, fear, wraith and lots of rebellion. No pun intended but Groza redempt in “Redemptive End” where the fast pacing drumming and the clear distorted guitar really go into the Extreme Metal mood. Following track “Nil” also fulfill the requirements with that full of despair vocals so commom in modern Black metal bands. With its more than seven minute length “Nil” gives the fan lots of real Black Metal moments where things get real nasty. The way I see it Black Metal has the obligation to be disgusting. Nothing less than that. Leave the kindness to Unblack Metal. That’s the track where Groza show what they came for. “Homewards” maintains the formula mixing Sisters of Mercy with Venom, if you know what I mean. The outcome is pretty interesting. The lead guitar strumming is really captive and exciting.

“The Redemptive End” is recommended to the fans that have the patience to wait the band takes off. I mean musicwise. Something as to wait for fire in the sky. It takes some time, but this album please the fan.

Groza “The Redemptive End” will be released on August 06th via AOP Records.

Track Listing: