Immolation – Acts of God
Release Date: 18th February 2022
Label: Nuclear Blast Records
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Genre: Death Metal
FFO: Incantation, Suffocation, Morbid Angel.
Review By: Rick Farley
Legendary N.Y. Death Metal titans, Immolation return for album number eleven. To say I am excited would be a considerable understatement. Immolation have been around for over thirty plus years, I’m proud to say I have been there for at least twenty-five of them. Easily considered one of the genres most innovative and important bands to those that are aware. Immolation have released album after album of top tier Death Metal to an undeserving world. I say undeserving because sadly this is still a band that is grossly underappreciated beyond the undergrounds reach. If there were such a thing as the big four in Death Metal, you could make a case for Immolation being one of them. As true pioneers standing atop the heap as one of the genres greatest bands, I hope that Acts of God finally brings them all the attention they deserve.
Aptly titled, this is a relentless beast of an album. It grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go. It sounds like it will level your house before it even gets to track five. Huge and ominous, the music violently writhes within a heavy, suffocating atmosphere. Ringing dissonant harmonies, augmented chords, odd time signatures, pick scrapes, pinch harmonics, and sick brutal riffs, which are all still deeply rooted in the quintessential Immolation sound, creates a callous darkness. Acts of God sounds like a conscious effort to let everything be more spacious and breathe naturally. It’s a little darker, and there’s an ever-present grittiness to the music that makes it sound even harsher. It has a murkier vibe that uncomfortably looms over. Musically more in line with “Atonement” than with “Kingdom of Conspiracy” it evolves their sound even further while maintaining everything you love about the band.
Honestly, I could use half this review just on Robert Vigna’s songwriting; the man is a guitar riff genius. Mixing granular patterns with slow, punishing grooves has been a classic trademark since the beginning. His signature and unique style are a vital component to Immolation’s sound. His use of innovative disjointed riffing is heavy, genre defining and ferocious. Unexpected intervals mixed with crushing angular rhythms, otherworldly solos, stop on a dime tempo changes and his use of chaos within space are like a maelstrom of swarming locusts sent to punish mankind. The riffs on Acts of God are incomparable, to anything other than Immolation themselves.
Drummer Steve Shalaty took over the helm in 2003 and stands as the band’s absolute best. His aggressive play sounds human and authentic to the point where it could fall apart at any moment. Highly technical, it goes beyond controlled chaos. The song structures have always been dependent on the rhythmic interplay between guitar and drums, and they both sound incredible here. Sporadic blasting, sick grooves, insane fills, and disorienting structure. It is incredibly precise drumming that still sounds energetic and loose.
You however cannot talk Immolation without mentioning vocalist/bassist Ross Dolan. A benchmark of consistency, his legendary cavernous vocals sound just as brutal now as they ever have. He has unbelievable power within his deep, thunderous growls that somehow fit the music perfectly. He’s not varied in range but has one of the very best growls in the business, Ross has few peers.
As it stands now, this is an incredible album. It equally ranks with the bands absolute best. Whichever album that may be for you, Acts of God will undoubtedly be right there with it. That speaks volumes to how good their body of work really is. Acts of God touches on their classic albums, mixing brutality with memorable and catchy songs. Little nods to the early days that is sure to please every fan. After thirty plus years Immolation releases an album that is remarkably fresh yet still deeply rooted in the band’s overall sound. A defining statement of what represents the band’s unique and uncompromising take on Death Metal. The absolute gold standard. 
(4.5 / 5)
