The Final Sin

Named after a location in one of my favorite video games of all time (namely Gothic 2) Irdorath have turned into one of the premium bands when it comes to metal music from Austria. Since their full length debut “Götterdämmerung (Zorn der Elemente)”” from 2007 they have constantly worked on refining their sound. With their 2020 output “The Final Sin” they have finally reached a point where they are able to present their very own and distinctive sound to the metal community.

This does not necessarily mean that they have completely reinvented the wheel or are going to win any prices for innovation. In fact this album is a natural evolution of their previous work. The ingredients are very traditional and pure. Thrash riffs that remind of some of the bands of the “new wave of old school thrash metal” like e.g. Harlott or In Malice’s Wake are enhanced by a few Gothenburg melodies and classic tremolo attacks akin to the second wave of (Scandinavian) black metal. However, the recipe has been refined until the overall mixture became perfectly seasoned. The music on this album does not feel like a clash of various sub-genres, but like one natural amalgamation of the single pieces.

From the desolate spell woven by “Chains of Virtue”, with its whirling tremolo harmonies and subtle threads of glimmering lead guitar, until the straight yet groovy aggressiveness of the last song’s deluge of rippling blast-beats and pure tonal terror Irdorath take you on a heavy ride. The rest of the album follows suit, constantly shifting and changing, with actual, proper riffs finding their way to the surface amongst the assault, coupled with tasteful leads that add a sense of traditional second wave melodies to the whole affair. The drumming is also top, being insane yet following the main patterns in a way that things never get overly chaotic.

The songwriting is spot on. Most tracks are downright infectious to experience, as the venom works its way through your ears into your brain with astonishing speed, and it’s with each successive song that “The Final Sin” impresses the listener. Thanks to an amazing production job – crisp and punchy, yet clear and diversified - the rhythm section and the guitar perfectly complement each other, and also the howling vocals have their place in the mix. The lyrics are once again in English, and the delivery of vocalist Markus has become even more intense than ever before.

Another detail that should be mentioned is the cover artwork, which is absolutely noble presenting its motif with a tasteful combination of white, gold and black. This is an album that should be got as physical edition, as it is a real highlight for the collection. I am deeply impressed by the quality level delivered by Irdorath and if they stay on course I can see a bright future for this band. For now they have produced one of the best albums of 2020.