SCHOLOMANCE: Immortality Murder 2CD. DOUBLE CD Blackened Death Metal. Check audio (both CDs)

Description

This three piece may soon sitting on the throne recently vacated by Emperor, and deservedly so. Scholomance play an insanely technical form of classically-inspired blackened death metal that can sometimes overwhelm the listener with its many intricacies and off-kilter keyboard work. This second release sees Scholomance developing this style further, but giving it some focus and not letting the songs amble along as confusedly as they did in the past. The songs now stand alone rather than melding into a hodgepodge of chaotic riffs and sharp solos. Listening to this requires a genuine concentrated effort to fully appreciate the mastery and complexity in its entirety. The album comes with a second CD of instrumental tracks and impressive improvised musings that demonstrate the talent these guys have. This bonus is for the musical purists that can experience the genius without the varied and emotive black metal vocals.

Check all songs:  https://jimmypitts.bandcamp.com/album/the-immortality-murder

https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nq2v4K-jpzOtGjn1fK6hKdsgcBtXlCInk&feature=gws_kp_album&feature=gws_kp_artist
Track listing
DISC 1:.
1. Part I: Absence / Contorted Porcelain-Faced Bitch
2. Part II: Childless One / The Body As Sulphur Stench
3. Part III: Matriarch
4. Part IV: Her Iniquity Uncovered / The Eastern Trinity Unexplained
5. Virus (The Theft Of Knowledge)
6. Companionship And Philosophical Fire (The Third)
7. Bedevilment And Bewilderment (Reality Greets The Moral W****)
8. Next Step, The (For The Sake Of The Greater Whole)

DISC 2:
1. Replacement…
2. Next Step, The (For The Sake Of The Greater Whole)
3. Nothing Is For, Or About You
4. Part I: Absence / Contorted Porcelain-Faced Bitch
5. If I Were Beautiful
6. Part II: Childless One / The Body As Sulphur Stench
7. And Yet We Were Dead…
8. Part III: Matriarch
9. How Familiar I Am…
10. Riddle, A
11. Part IV: Her Iniquity Uncovered / The Eastern Trinity Unexplained
12. Additions

Duration   01:49:55

Scholomance: Jimmy Pitts (vocals, piano, keyboards); Scott Grinklaw (guitar, piano, keyboards, percussion); Jerry Twyferd (bass).
Recorded at Caravell Recording Studio, Branson, Missouri.

This highly complex, passionate work combines the best of Scholomance two-pronged assault on your senses: their technical prowess and the vehement exploration of the cruel corners of existence which they pursue with a zeal that accepts no compromises. ‘The Immortality Murder’ must surely be one of the most groundbreaking releases ever in a progressive movement that seeks, above all, to widen the traditionally conservative heavy metal genre musical powers, or even, at the end, to completely transform them forever… A bonus CD is included with 12 instrumental tracks!

5.0 out of 5 stars An inspiring rarity in metal.,
[from liner notes] “”Note about the bonus instrumental CD: We did the instrumental cd for our fans who aren’t into the more vicious vocal material. We know that many of you prog & instrumental fans out there dig the music by itself, so this disc is for you. The piano tracks are completely improvised, … totally unplanned, unrehearsed, … in full detail, unedited.””

Yeeeehaw! Finally a concession to the minority of fans I belong to (those folks who love bludgeoning heavy metal, but hate the sound of a man trying to vocally imitate a wasps’ nest being attacked with a chainsaw). I’m sure the original version of The Immortality Murder will be a treat for people who like that kind of thing, but disc 2 is the true marvel for me. These tracks have had all the wretched cookie-monster stuff removed and as a bonus they’re interspersed with some crazy-spooky piano work. Program just those songs and you’ve got a nice helping of beautiful dark interludes, like something out of a truly scary Gothic horror film (without the cheese).

The rest of the material is an exhilarating kind of metal that equal parts gorgeous melodicism, outrageous virtuosity and awe-inspiring technicality. Nothing new there, but Scholomance also has an impressive skill at balancing heavy/soft dynamics the way e.g. Opeth and King Crimson do. Crunching guitars give way to quiet smooth-flowing harpsichords, eerie synths float above like ghosts spiralling through the rafters, the changing drums provide a soft coasting groove one minute and abruptly make your brain start rattling in your skull the next. I’d also be remiss if I didn’t mention the super-tasty fret-less bass work, which is the perfect anchor. It an album of one mood, but it does what it does spectacularly.

I can’t really comment on disc 1 (except to say that the printed lyrics are pretty fascinating & intelligent), so I’ll leave that part of the review to the folks who can stand to listen to it. But novelty aside, anyone into melodic/technical metal really shouldn’t be disappointed with this album, whether it one disc or the other or both. No matter your taste, it covered.

5.0 out of 5 stars The best overlooked band in the US.,
I bought this CD because I’m in love with bands on The End Records like Arcturus and Winds. So I thought I’d give it a chance…and it blew my head clean off my shoulders. This CD is PACKED with technicality and musicianship. I can’t point out one flaw in the band except maybe the lack of use of real drums..but I got over it quick. The guitars, pianos/synths, and bass work more than make up for it. The band sounds like a mix of Arcturus, Dream Theater, and Peccatum (Ishahn of Emperor side project). Also, they include a second CD of purely instrumental tracks with improvised piano on top of the regular recordings. The CD is definitely one of the best purchases I’ve made in months.

5.0 out of 5 stars simply amazing…,
I originally bought this cd because of the record label it was on, (the same as Arcturus and Diabolical Masquerade) and when i finally listened to it for the first time it blew me away with its technical melodies and incredible piano parts. This band is so atmospheric, and as an added bonus for progressive fans, there is a second CD without the vocals and different arrangements of the music with improvised piano. Buy this CD!