An Irish solo artist, with music that’s a mix of death-doom with some melodic/symphonic black metal. On October 25th, 2023 Sonus Mortis released his seventh independent studio album Of Red Barren Earth. Which includes eight dark and intense songs filled with moments of beauty, which would gratify fans of Dying My Bride and Triptykon.
Introduction:
Sonus Mortis, Of Red Barren Earth: This review will evaluate every aspect of the album, from its intricate musical composition to its production. Our analysis will provide valuable insights to help you determine if this album is worth adding to your collection.
The First Three Sins of Ego Sum Dolor
Let’s start by discussing the first three sins of Sonus Mortis and his album, Of Red Barren Earth.
The First Sin, The Strings/Keys: Features blackened death galloping and progressive riffs, with the additional Gothic keys. The Second Sin, The Vocals: Involves aggressive screams and growls that blend seamlessly with epic chorus vocals. The Third Sin—The Percussions: Delves into the vast world of drum patterns and fills/beats that add depth and complexity.
The Fourth Sin: Overall Discussion: A journey through eight dark and intense songs filled with moments of beauty
Upon pressing the play button, the listener is immediately greeted with the opening piece, Among The Marrow and the Machines, which welcomes the listener with an epic and captivating sound of symphonic and progressive instrumentals accompanied by breathtaking vocals’ introduction. This sets the stage for what will come.
As the listener progresses through the sophomore track entitled The Elimination of the Archaic and continues exploring the remaining six compositions, they will discover a masterful fusion of death doom and symphonic black metal. The musical balance achieved within these tracks is remarkable and showcases this solo artist’s exceptional skill in seamlessly blending these two distinct subgenres with perfection.
Of Red Barren Earth stands out as a fruit of art. It is a thriving fruit of art that seamlessly blends various influences and elements (mentioned above), resulting in a truly unique and captivating sound. The album elegantly combines early death/doom-gothic sounds, reminiscent of the unparalleled My Dying Bridge, with the symphonic and orchestral atmosphere synonymous with Dimmu Borgir. Adding the dark edge found in Cradle Of Filth‘s music, coupled with (tint of) folk elements and early Celtic Frost and Triptykon, adds a compelling and dramatic flair to the album.
In the seventh piece, titled Reality, Our Collective Destroyer, one can sense the influence of Triptykon‘s dark and foreboding sound. Simultaneously, I feel like Reality, Our Collective Destroyer pays (somewhat) homage to Triptykon, and listeners can hear their unique style woven into the fabric of this song.
As the listener immerses themselves in the musical forbidden fruit of art, they are treated to a seamless and captivating flow of epic and heavy sounds. This results from the eight musically intricate and engaging songs, each crafted carefully to ensure no dull or repetitive moments.
Of Red Barren Earth‘s devilmanship behind the instrumental and vocal compositions is awe-inspiring, with perfect arrangement and balance. The blackened death galloping and progressive riffs are expertly blended with rhythmic patterns and clean chords, while the intricate drum patterns and fills/beats add depth and complexity. Kevin‘s vocal work is equally impressive, with aggressive screams and growls that blend seamlessly with epic chorus vocals. The Gothic and orchestral keys provide a haunting atmosphere that adds to the overall mood and feel of the music.
Of Red Barren Earth is a grandiose and epic sound that is heavy, progressive, and brutal -yet dark and beautiful, making it a true masterpiece and a forbidden fruit of art. Every song on the album showcases Kevin‘s exceptional devilmanship, instrumental/vocal, and songwriting abilities. Various instruments and soundscapes create a rich and complex sound that is haunting and (again) darkly beautiful. The album takes the listener on a dark and intense journey filled with moments of beauty and introspection.
Overall, Of Red Barren Earth is a must-listen for any metal or progressive music fan.
The album comes to an end with the last song, The Threads Of Life. We want to give a shoutout to Sonus Mortis for letting us review his album, Of Red Barren Earth. Now, we’re going to wrap it up by talking about the final three sins and concluding the review.
You’re Listening to “Of Red Barren Earth”
PlayThe Last Three Sins
Let’s discuss the last three sins, our thoughts on Sonus Mortis and their album, Of Red Barren Earth.
The Fifth Sin, The Memorabilia: Is that for us, Kevin is a talented musician specialising in crafting symphonic dark metal. His music is heavily influenced by renowned artists such as My Dying Bridge, Dimmu Borgir, Cradle Of Filth, and Triptykon.
Despite drawing inspiration from these established names, Kevin‘s music stands out as a unique and innovative creation that is entirely his own. His latest release is a testament to his skill and creativity, boasting a balanced mix that avoids monotony or repetition. Fans of the genre are sure to appreciate Byrne’s fresh take on symphonic dark metal, which manages to pay homage to its roots while pushing its boundaries in exciting new directions.
The Sixth Sin, The Artwork:
The artwork is genuinely remarkable and expertly captures the essence of its title and the album’s theme. The portrayal’s attention to detail and precision is awe-inspiring and add depth to the artistic experience.
The Seventh Sin, Disrelish:
Nothing to disrelish within the musical spectrum of Sonus Mortis, and their album Of Red Barren Earth.
This concludes the Sonus Mortis, Of Red Barren Earth.
Track-Listing:
- Among The Marrow and the Machines
- The Elimination Of The Archaic
- Overwhelming Mass
- Than There Was Silence From the World
- Of Red Barren Earth
- Harbinger Of Doom
- Reality, Our Collective Destroyer
- The Threads Of Life
