You add symphonic keyboards to any kind of metal, and for the most part I’ll dig it. Add them to a blistering tech death/black metal sound and me love you long time. Such is the case with South Carolina’s Enthean, a new -ish trio and their impressive self released debut album.

With a tech death backbone that reminds me a little of the first Agiel album, but with a little more black metal vocals and pacing, Priests of Annihilation is full of shredding, sweeping riffs, hammering tech death percussion and a mix of deep bellows and higher pitched screams (some clean vocals are used once, in opener “1054”). It’s all backed by symphonic black metal orchestration of the Cradle of Filth/Dimmu Borgir/Fleshgod Apocalypse sort. Not quite as theatrical or pompous and a little more synthetic (it’s far from a ‘real’ orchestra sound), but sweeping and elegant, even a little sci fi ish/Nocturnus like.

The end result is a damn solid 8 songs and 44 minutes of well produced (though the bass is a little non existent) music that covers a lot of territory and is delivered with ample skill. The songs are all a decent length and there is no interludes or filler, as the atmospherics are built into the overall sound with each song having plenty (i.e. opener “1054” and “Before You, I Am”). Each of the 8 songs is solid, although I have a hard time picking a real standout or that killer moment that elevates a song into something more special.  That said, “Tones of Desecration” starts as a pretty intense assault on the senses, then segues into a nice melodic moment and “Before You, I Am” has a nice main riff and stern march.  “Bring Forth the Raven” has a really nice epic mid section, and 7 1/2 minute closer “Invalesc de Profundis” is a pure symphonic, early Emperor ish black metal assault with some tech death noodling thrown in. I wish they would use a little more moments like the songs mid song march and bluesy solo.

This along with he likes of Fleshgod Apocalypse, Raphuemet’s Well, Blood Ages, The Devils of Loudon and Hyperion so far in 2016 have really delivered top notch metal or various styles with added symphonics and that makes me very very happy.

[Visit the band's website]

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