This is the second album from Finnish death metal band Proscription.
Desolate Divine contains 44 minutes of blackened death metal. This, right here, is the good stuff. Proscription landed on my radar with 2020’s Conduit, (which I could have swore I’d reviewed, but apparently not), but Desolate Divine has destroyed my expectations. Yep, I like this..
Desolate Divine combines the intensity of murderous death metal extremity with the grim darkness of black metal esoteric lethality. For a taste of what awaits you on Proscription’s latest, I’ll drop a few band names here to whet the old appetite – Altars Ablaze, Arkhon Infaustus, Behemoth, Deicide, Hate Eternal, Immolation, Werewolves, and Whore of Bethlehem. Desolate Divine has the feel of a classic 90s death metal album, only one that’s been corrupted and warped by black metal’s uncaring touch. It’s resolutely death metal, but black metal certainly has its claws in its soul.
The record is a ferocious and unforgiving one, but Proscription’s songwriting ability is such that the music doesn’t come across one-dimensional. It’s certainly single-minded in its pursuit of merciless brutality and blackened hostility, but within this the songs demonstrate an engaging grasp of sinister malevolent atmosphere and aggressive arcane hooks. The blast beats are everywhere, but there are also different paces deployed across the songs. This might be a section where crushing mid-paced riffs dominate, or one where a slower, more atmospheric focus arises from the carnage to terrify and threaten.
Production-wise, Desolate Divine sounds great. The guitars are massive and full-bodied, with a blackened crunch. The growls are horrific and deep, like they’re chewing through bones. When melody is used it’s dark, macabre, and frequently quite striking.
There is, of course, the regulation pointless interlude, although this certainly isn’t the complete waste of space that most such tracks are.
Well, this has impressed. Proscription’s venomous savagery is devastatingly effective. Desolate Divine is a satisfying, rewarding, and enjoyable record, assuming you can survive its punishment. It’s the sort of album I can happily put on to just lose myself in its well-crafted extremity.
Very good stuff, indeed.
Wonderbox Metal 