### Pandemonium: Promo 2010

#### 04/04/11 || Habakuk

When I reviewed Pandemonium’s latest full-length last year, I must say I wasn’t quite right. A 7,5 just wasn’t justified. This shit was 8 – 8,5 material. Sorry boys. Strong death metal with a few black metal leanings from Poland done right, and I’m actually still listening to ‘Hellspawn’ quite frequently. I did bash the band for their inexplicable promo strategy however, and apparently they took my advice. Why else would I get mails from “Greg” from Godz of War Productions from time to time now who wants me – or GD rather – to spread the word about Pandemonium? Also he asked for my address to send me “Promo 2010”, which is nice. I gotta say, I appreciate the effort, so cheers Greg! – but I’m too fucken lazy for that. Yeah, eat that, investigative journalism. I’m not even getting out of my chair to get shit handfed to me.

Enter Lord K with his never ending stream of label-sents and his intimidating beard to go with it. Apparently, he’s on Greg’s list as well, and here we go! “Promo 2010” reviewed by yours truly in the end anyway. First thing I wanna get out of the way: the cover was done by “GraphicDesigner666”. Bad ass.

Too bad the song material is not as great as on the predecessor. Simple reason: too. much. black. metal. The thing that is “deathiest” on this two-tracker are Paul’s (more like Pawel’s) vocals, and I was no big fan of those on “Hellspawn” already, though they are far from terrible. Anyway, that’s not good. In addition, we get some vull-on vrvstbitten vorest croaking vocals this time in some instances as well, and that is definitely not something I need in my death metal.

It’s obviously not a complete change in direction, so the slowly chugging “God delusion” sure gets me nodding along, despite (or due to?) featuring the good old “Kashmir”/ that Godzilla song riff. Song one on the other hand (aptly entitled “Black forest”) features a bit too much clanking guitar, strings of blackened riffs and so forth, although their “old” death metal power still shines through.

So yeah, while these guys definitely have made it onto my watchlist, they are putting their spot at stake with moving too far into black territory. The path ov blackened death metal is a fruitful yet surely narrow one with Habakvk.

- Information
- Released: 2010
- Label: Godz ov War Productions
- Website: www.pandemonium.metal.pl
- Band
- Paul: vocals, guitars
- Mark: guitars
- Michael: bass
- Simon: drums

- Tracklist
- 01. Black Forest
- 02. God Delusion