I Am Risen

After having been more than impressed by the fourth and latest album „Denial of Creation” by my fellow countrymen Irdorath I decided to move on backwards in their catalogue. After having released 2 German titled full lengths they switched to English lyrics with their third record “I Am Risen”. As the band name is based on the video game Gothic that title might be a reference to the spiritual game series. On the other hand the lyrics are pretty dark so I guess this is just coincidence.

Having been familiar with their music from “Denial of Creation” I knew what to expect and I have not been disappointed one bit. The mixture of swirling trashy riffs that will make your neck hurt because of making you bang your head like a madman and the layers of epic atmosphere that we know from some big Black Metal bands is in full force here. Irdorath have taken some of the best chords from both genres, added a few twists and put them back together with a little injection of their own DNA to create some hooky yet crunchy chops that should put a smile on the face of any Metal head. The lead guitars are the star of the show presenting short interludes and also a few longer solo pieces keeping the melodic level of the music very high.

The band is able to produce a fantastic mood which is especially noticeable in the groovy mid-tempo parts. The drumming by Thomas is on point keeping the rhythm with ease only going berserk in a few selected moments. There are faster blast-beat parts as well but it is not the aim of the Irdorath to break any speed records or impress with flashy instrumental sections. This is an album made for passive consumers looking for a fun and furious ride.

Comparing the 2 albums I think that “I Am Risen” is just a bit more stripped-down and straight to the point whereas “Denial of Creation” is slightly more epic with a few more complex and varied song structures and some additional layers within the soundscape. What both have in common is an abundance of melody and harmonies giving the sound an uplifting and atmospheric nature. The commanding vocals by Markus are the perfect tool to present the story behind the album which is some obscure and twisted take on religious history.

The production underlines the assumption above being a tiny bit rawer than on the subsequent record. Maybe this is the reason that “I Am Risen” feels a bit less blackish to me than “Denial of Creation”. That being said the sound is powerful and clear giving each instrument enough room to breathe.

Both albums are easy recommendations for each fan of melodic Thrash Metal with a few BM moments that is cleverly composed and played on a professional level. Well done guys!