Summoning The Lich – Under the Reviled Throne
Release Date: 26th July 2024
Label: Prosthetic Records
Bandcamp
Genre: Death Metal, Deathcore, Tech Death, Melodic Death Metal, Blackened Death Metal.
FFO: The Black Dahlia Murder, Inferi, Ingested, Job For A Cowboy, Archspire, Cattle Decapitation.
Review By: Rick Farley
Fantasy death metal dealers Summoning The Lich return for another chapter of tales of isolated kingdoms, malevolent mages, witch queens and cannibalistic armies, hell-bent on destruction.
2021 brought us the ambitious debut album United In Chaos that seemingly came out of nowhere from this St. Louis, Missouri death metal band who bring fantastical story telling inspired by Dungeons & Dragons and other fantasy elements to life through the dark and malevolent world they have created. A planned trilogy, with the second chapter being the bands latest release, the scorching Under the Reviled Throne. Spastic flourishes of melodeath, tech death, black metal, and deathcore all twisted up into a hellish, ferocious version of modern death metal. This is catchy, ferocious, and deliriously fun.
To say that Under the Reviled Throne is pure chaotic energy would be a huge understatement. This is a vile beast foaming at the mouth, ready to strike you down with extreme precision and unrelenting violence. Summoning The Lich has proven yet again that they are a major force in the death metal world that cannot be ignored. The combination of conceptual fantasy lyrics with bludgeoning, fast death metal just fucking works. A great reprieve from the social aware life lessons that we all have had enough of. Tracks like The Forest Feasts have searing guitar melodies with bouncy swagger, while being utterly destroyed by the organised chaos of the rhythm section. Drummer TJ Chilton steamrolls with a wall of punishing double bass, blastbeats and crazed fills.
While My Horrors Unending is an onslaught of brutality, speed, and crunchy hooks. Lyrically told from the messenger who is at the front line of defending the Kingdom of Bastell from the Lich’s approaching army of Sin Witches and corrupted humankind. Gnarly vocals ranging from high shrieks to guttural lows and glorious pig squeals, David Bruno is able to hit any nasty style and tone he wishes. He has a tremendous range, with a demonic delivery and maniacal personality. Sinister guitar harmonics adorns the end of this track perfectly, like a spiteful banshee wailing mournfully.
The Carrion Fleet has a blackened, nightmarish, floaty atmosphere. Painfully melodic in a menacing way; accessible but still attacking and brutally fast at times. Guitarist Ryan Felps easily transitions between technical complexity, wicked grooves, and melodic atmosphere. His guitar work is exceptional in every way. Honestly, Under the Reviled Throne runs the gamut in mysterious atmosphere, brutal chaos, and memorable hooky songs. There is truly a lot to like here that should appeal to just about any metalhead that is cool with harsh vocals.
Under the Reviled Throne was produced and mixed by Jack Daniels at The Armory Recording Co. and mastered by John Douglass. The record is crystal clear with plenty of life to it. It sounds clinical and precise but still very nasty and seething. Everything shines brightly with pristine crispness with the ability to rip your fucking throat out at any second and it does.
Personally, this is an album that is going to spend a ton of time in my ears, the replayability is extremely high. At 11 tracks, 40 minutes, Under the Reviled Throne is a harsh musical journey through engaging storytelling, killer aesthetics and an intricate, griping, sonic bludgeoning that is worth taking over and over again. Check this out.
(4.5 / 5)
