The Bishop Of Hexen - The Death Masquerade
Key Facts
Country: 🇮🇱
Genre: Symphonic Black Metal
Release Date: 19th June 2020
Record Label(s): Dusktone
Band Members:
Ariel Eshcar - Guitars
Avicious - Guitars, Bass
Dimrost - Keyboards
Lord Koder - Vocals, Drums, Percussion
The Bishop Of Hexen - Of Shuttering Harps & Shadow Hounds
Review
Rating (out of 5🤘): 🤘🤘🤘🤘
Favourite Track(s): A Witch King Reborn, Of Shuttering Harps & Shadow Hounds, All Sins Lead To Glory, A Thousand Shades Of Slaughter
The first appearance from an Israeli band on the blog, and what a band they are! I first heard The Bishop Of Hexen on the video game Brütal Legend, whilst decapitating evil demons. Now they're tearing their way into 2020 with a brand new album The Death Masquerade. I have to say the album artwork is probably one of my favourite pieces this year so far. Although it reminds me of something Italian titans Fleshgod Apocalypse would do, but the scene itself is mysterious and equally terrifying. I've always had a macabre fascination with the masquerade ball concept because you don't know who's eyes are watching you and as it's been seen in multiple period piece films, it is a breeding ground for scandal and murder. This macabre theme is precent in the album and gives the album an extra edge in my opinion.
Musically, the album is multi-layered and expansive in it's sound, a sprawling grandeur that encompasses you and traps you within its dark and foreboding grip. I do feel that the album's main melodic focus is in the synths and orchestral sections as the rhythmic riffs drive the songs forward underneath. Throughout the album, I couldn't help but think that this album is a more demonic Phantom Of The Opera, the dramatic and intense scene setting is so well crafted with the classical elements that you feel like you could be in a haunted auditorium watching the events gradually unfold. Each song feels like it is an individual movement in a bigger classical piece as all the transitions between the songs are effortless. The relationship between the traditional metal instruments and the synths/orchestral elements throughout this album has really peaked my interest and is my key focus point every time I listen to it. Those elements feel quite reserved compared to other symphonic black metal releases that I've listened to, it feels quite dark and imposing in the most grotesque but awesome way, it's not trying to impress you with ornate grandness. With that in mind, it carries on with this theme I have in my mind of the ugly secrecies and mysteries of the masquerade ball. The sense of narrative is also used to emphasise the melodies in my opinion, there is a lot of fast paced movement in the melodies, supported by the crushing rhythm riffs and it creates this interesting platform for the vocals, which narrate the story, to sit on. Overall, it is an intricate album with so many layers to explore that I could be here all day trying to decipher them. With that in mind, the album creates a visceral and rich imagery that you'll want to explore over and over.
The production is quite interesting with this one, as there is a bigger focus on the symphonic elements throughout the album. By this I mean the guitars and drums don't seem to have much prominence and sort of blend in with everything else without standing out on its own, the bass is there but you can only hear it in flashes. Whilst the snare has a sharp snap, and the click of the kick is very present, the drums don't have much oomph in my opinion. Whilst I like the rawness of the mix, the orchestral elements can get quite overbearing in some sections, when you want to hear the guitar really crush a section. Even so, the lead guitar tones are razor sharp and cut through the majority of the mixes, and the rhythm tones fill the lower mid ranges with a solid and thick feel. Overall, I just think the orchestra should be turned down a little and the band turned up a bit, despite that there is a fairly even balance throughout the majority of the album.
A dark and mysterious album that is sure to grab your intrigue! If you fancy a trip to the ball, get listening to The Death Masquerade!
The production is quite interesting with this one, as there is a bigger focus on the symphonic elements throughout the album. By this I mean the guitars and drums don't seem to have much prominence and sort of blend in with everything else without standing out on its own, the bass is there but you can only hear it in flashes. Whilst the snare has a sharp snap, and the click of the kick is very present, the drums don't have much oomph in my opinion. Whilst I like the rawness of the mix, the orchestral elements can get quite overbearing in some sections, when you want to hear the guitar really crush a section. Even so, the lead guitar tones are razor sharp and cut through the majority of the mixes, and the rhythm tones fill the lower mid ranges with a solid and thick feel. Overall, I just think the orchestra should be turned down a little and the band turned up a bit, despite that there is a fairly even balance throughout the majority of the album.
A dark and mysterious album that is sure to grab your intrigue! If you fancy a trip to the ball, get listening to The Death Masquerade!
The Bishop Of Hexen - The Death Masquerade
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