Para Bhakti... Salvation

Well this is the first review for "Para Bhakti... Salvation" and also my first review for Metal Archives. So, here goes!

Let me start by saying that in my opinion, Weapon is probably one of the best, most original Black metal bands that are around nowadays (along with Negative Plane and Ondskapt.) It really sucks that they dont play live because that would be a surreal experience.

This 7" shows a big progression in terms of production. One of the issues with Violated Hejab was that the guitars were too muffled and overall it lacked the punch that this new 7" has. This was recorded at Deathcult Studio, some of you might remember it because that is basically the studio of Lust dictator Sabazios Diabolus. In the liner notes it says Sabazios even co-produced the EP and he obviously did a great job.

So after 3 years we get new music from Weapon, and right off the bat the biggest noticable difference is the drums. This incidentally is also the "weakest" aspect of the EP. Don't get me wrong, the drummer is not incompetemt nor sloppy. He just does not have the creativity or technical flair that the first drummer had. Arcan of Death is a standard death metal drummer, nothing more nothing less. If Weapon appealed to you for the amazing drumming, then this EP might disappoint you.

Ok, on to the songs. 'Archana' is the first one, and ranges from slow, atomospehric almost melancholic parts, to fast Carcass type hooks and even moments that are like Deathspell Omega in SMRC. Some fantastic guitar solos are performed by Vetis Monarch and the vocal attack is still poweful and identical to previous releases. The bass lines are very well executed, courtesy of Agni Nethra, who is bascially Vermin of Axis of Advance / Revenge. His work in Weapon is VERY diferent from what he does in his other bands, and it would be great to hear him do more of this style of metal.

The title track is more of a mid-paced affair, but it's more aggresive than 'Archana'. In 'Para Bhakti... Salvation' we find some more killer guitar solos and also some deadly bass breaks that are just fucking creepy. The song ends with a strange, ritualistic outro that actually features some clean vocals which you have to hear to believe.

So the Weapon website says that their album is next, which I am very eager to hear. The only reason this 7" did not get 100 / 100 is due to the drums being not as strong as before. Hopefully this will change!

SUPPORT WEAPON!!