This album is split into 4 massive tracks. The first track here is “Preserved In Ash”, and right off the bat, this one will certainly wake you up. One thing I’ve always enjoyed about Cormorant is their massive blend of Metal genres. Here, we’re getting some Black Metal, Death Metal, even a little Doom Metal all thrown together. Shockingly, it really doesn’t come off as mess though. Just the opposite actually, “Preserved In Ash” comes off gigantic and epic. There’s almost a certain grandness to this track, this whole album as a matter of fact. I absolutely love the way the members of Cormorant play off each other. Between Marcus Luscombe's vocals and the triumphant blast of guitars, I can’t help but seriously get into this. The vocal layering also gives “Preserved In Ash” such a sinister feel to it. But to be honest, that’s what I love in metal. I want this love to hear metal at its most over the top and ridiculous, and that’s what I’m getting here. The epic guitar chords soaring over these intense drums and explosive vocals give this such a great atmosphere. And of course, the progressive elements continue to be very strong in Cormorant’s music. Thankfully though, it really doesn't ever come out too full of itself. The acoustic passage as well is just to die for and brings me back to the old days of listening to Cormorant’s material as if it was some epic, Black Metal storybook. Now, like I said, we’re dealing with a lot of seriously beefy and gigantic songs here. But they really honestly don’t feel drawn out. No, there really isn’t a single moment here where I’m not completely engaged by these very grand atmospheres. Some of these wild crescendos that lead up to these stunning and explosive breakdowns are simply awe-inspiring. Even some of the slower moments in the last few minutes come off as strong as epic as some of the heavier moments, including that one piercing guitar line that keeps getting repeated. “Preserved In Ash” is an 11-minute epic, and it’s one hell of a way to start a metal album. Up next, “Sentinel” has a much slower introduction. But with some of these track lengths, including this one at 16 minutes, can you really blame them for taking their time? Even as far as instrumentals go on this one, they’re so much more sluggish and doom metal oriented. I wouldn’t say that’s a bad thing, as Cormorant can certainly still pull everything off well. But I feel like, for me, I’m much more interested in the band's Black Metal material. I do get my wish, however, because 2 minutes in and this one picks up fast, and it’s GOOD. I’m actually seriously digging a whole lot of these vocals on this album. Not only are the band’s black metal growls coming off more spot on than ever, their sung vocals are coming off seriously amazing. Up until that point, we haven’t heard a ton of their more sung vocals, but it’s great to hear. And to be honest, they take an already pretty strong Doom Metal vibe and make it even stronger, Pallbearer fans will certainly enjoy. Now, I didn’t know how to take their more Doom oriented material at first, but “Sentinel” certainly works in my book. Especially since Cormorant is still doing their thing and blending all of these different genres at a rapid pace. It’s overwhelming sometimes and may take a moment for you to take it all in. But for metal this heavy, it’s also strangely inviting and easy to digest. Some of these extended solos as well are just so masterful. For example, the drumming on this track is constantly really stunning, and of course, the guitars that constantly seem to get more and wilder. But I think what really makes Cormorant stand out and break away from other artists, are their progressive elements. The more Folk-Metal passage here brings me back tot he days of listening to artists like Panopticon, and Cormorant pull it off amazingly. The fact that this very pummeling band can also be this beautiful makes this serene passage even more mind-blowing. The string here is beautiful, and some of the distant Metal instrumentals are a great touch. Not only that, but Cormorant easily ride this Serene Folk-Metal passage for 3-4 minutes and make is constantly gorgeous. It sets them aside as musicians, and it’s great to hear. Not to mention, I continue to seriously love the sung vocals during this portion which sound so tortured. But what’s most masterful is the way they bring back in the crushing Black Metal aspects for “Sentinel”’s remains 4 minutes. This track is absolutely masterfully crafted.
This album continues on with “The Devourer”, and let me just say, you know you're dealing with a true monolith of an album when the shortest track is 8 minutes long. Vocal wise, this is absolutely brilliant. Between the usual Black Metal holy and the more Death Metal grunts, this track is brutal all around. And while I’m on the topic of vocals, the sound vocals here continue to be some of the most breathtaking moments from this track. They aren’t perfect, but they tie things together really well. Overall, “The Devourer” is the most straightforward track of the bunch. Listening to this, you really don’t even get the feeling that you’re in the midst of some Progressive Metal Epic. That is until the 2-minute mark, where Cormorant brings in some elements of Technical Death Metal which is solid. The breakdowns here are solid as well, and of course, the solos by this point have become ridiculous. Overall, this album is exquisite. Some of the Folk-Metal passages on “The Devourer” continue to be truly chilling, especially with just how well some of the distant instrumentals intertwine. It gives this track something that I really wasn’t expecting, and that’s a serious human aspect, and a sense of longing. But don’t worry metal fans, these quiet passages don’t last long. Actually, just the opposite, since the final 3 minutes here are some of the darkest and most hellish we’ve heard on this entire album. This continues to be a metal album with something for everyone, and that’s wild. But we’re not out of the woods yet, because we’ve yet to talk about this album’s 26-minute long finale, ‘Migration”. I have to continue to commend just how these really strong these atmospheres continue to come off. This track is by far the slowest and most sluggish here by far, but it has these great accompanying guttural vocals that sound like they were ripped from hell itself. But it’s the sort of Over-The-Top, brutal atmosphere that I love to hear. It’s intense, with some of the biggest and boldest instrumentals we’ve heard yet here by far. Each guitar chord and cymbal crash is just so HUGE sounding. But as far as “Migration” goes, the pacing is the name of the game. Being a 26-minute long track, you have to have your pacing down and trust me Cormorant do it justice. Then we have once again the sung vocals, which for me add just enough human tendencies to this one. But as a whole track, “Migration” comes off to me as some gigantic and twisted storm, with the band performing in the midst of this gigantic swirling mass of hellish debris. Some of these drum and guitar solos are just THAT intense. However, Cormorant do a really fantastic job of keeping things level and under control. But just when I thought by this point I’ve heard everything this album has to offer, some of the animalistic shrieks around the 7 and a half minute mark are absolutely chilling. I also have to commend the guys on their Progressive elements, because these transitions between these different portions have been nothing sort of seamless. The breakdowns on “Migration” continue to be gigantic, but at the same time, the sheer epic ness of this continues to make this one digestible. All of these passages end up making me feel like I’m watching some ridiculous medieval battle taking place over a dozen lands, and it’s great. Not only that, but these passages all have their own very distinct personalities. All I can say is this album is brilliant. Every vocal screamed or sung, is spot on. And these more Folk Metal passages are simply to die for and show off just how great musicians the boys from Cormorant are. And remember when I said earlier that the name of the game is pacing? Well, Cormorant actually take the last 13 minutes of “Migration” to wind things down slowly. That’s all I really have to say, I don’t want to spoil this because this album demands a listen.
Rating: 8.4/10
Give A Listen To: Just man up and listen to the whole thing.
Overall Thoughts: Ok, so this album is massive. Clocking in at over an hour, if you're not into very lengthy Progressive Black Metal albums, this is going to be literal hell for you. But if you're into very visual and grand Metal, this is something you have to listen to. From the very exciting and intense Black Metal passages here to the more beautiful and serene Folk Metal passages, Cormorant have a little something for everyone here. Not to mention, they pull it off in such grand fashion that even though we're dealing with 10-15 minute tracks, it's all easily digestible.
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