Rating: 8.0

Country: Sweden

Release Date: 2007

Record Label: Deathgasm / Konqueror Records

Track list:
1. Release In Death
2. Arcanum
3. Black Chapel
4. Ebola
5. Among The Beasts & Ancient Slumber
6. Life Extinct
7. Tabula Rasa
8. Hell Above
9. Bane Appetite
10. The Infernal Voyage

Band Website: Nominon

Nominon - Terra Necrosis

Daniel Garptoft-Vocals
Juha Sulasalmi-Guitar
Anders Malmstrom-Bass
Christian Stromblad-Guitar
Perra Karlsson-Drums

Well, well.. who would have thought that a Swedish Death Metal band could ever manage to sound not so "Swedish"? I kid you not for that is the very first thing to have crossed my mind upon discovering their very promising debut, Recremation over a year ago. Indeed don't go passing them off as another Dismember or Entombed clone for they have proven to establish their very own merit even more so w/ their follow up, Terra Necrosis. Basically, they keep that old school vibe flowing throughout but this time taking cues from a variety of influences that span well beyond their own geographical climate.

Indeed what greatly sets them apart from the rest of the pack are the differing uses of tempo and riffing sequences which are explored and meshed successfully together within several songs to create mini epics of sorts that feel like turbulent hellrides through the many levels and chasms of ancient chasms and the most unsanitary of murky catacombs. Hence one of the standout tracks, "Black Chapel" serves as one fine example which begins as a sloooow, calculating ominous build up and continues to ply on layer upon layer of murky, claustrophobic riffage (think Covenant era Morbid Angel) but never exceeds beyond its midpaced gallop of thunderous chugging which almost eerily reminds you of the choicest moments of Bolt Thrower but w/ an added touch of poisonous venom, and then climaxing into collapsing descent into a funereal doomscape. The fifth track, "Among the Beasts/Ancient Slumber" is perhaps the only time you'll hear the band blasting away at its most fast and furious throughout complete w/ mournful but chaotic soloing thus recalling a more painfully despondent Pestilence. And speaking of Pestilence, it's amazing how uncanny vocalist Daniel Garptoft sounds like Martin Van Drunen in certain spots while during others, he comes across as a more possessed Karl Willets of Bolt Thrower but mostly during the more slower, climactic buildups that call for a deeper register.

Overall though, musically the band isn't reinventing the genre by any means but does a good job in doing the elders of the genre very proud. Might I add, it's a relief to hear a band in this day and age that doesn't rely on pro-tools, triggers, and other studio trickery to pass itself off as a Death Metal record. Besides that, who wants to hear another recording where all you're getting is one long blastbeat throughout. Come on, Death Metal was never meant to be an endurance test! Thankfully, Nominon forsakes all of that and relies strictly on the feelings, and raw emotions that bands like Autopsy, Entombed, etc. wonderfully conveyed to our ears so many years ago.

January 19th, 2007