I’ve been eager to hear the debut full length from Canada’s Weapon since I read an article about them from the indomitable Nathan T Birk in Metal Maniacs Magazine (before its untimely demise). And while an excellent release, Draconian Paradigm is still a bit of a mystery to me, but I imagine that was the band’s intent.
Plying a cryptic style of thrashy, occult black metal, Weapon is certainly relatively old school with lots of NWOBH moments (early Celtic Frost and Absu comes to mind), and rough but crisp production, but there’s also an undercurrent of early esoteric Greek metal running through their veins ( Rotting Christ, Septic Flesh). The end mix while certainly a mysterious, ritualistic amalgamation of metal, just leaves me a tad cold.
The opening instrumental track, “Weapon” is bit of a head scratcher, as it could be a pure retro thrash number that’s so popular right now. However, the second track “Cacophony! Black Sun Dragon’s Tongue” and third track “Serpentine Ayat” reveal Weapon’s slithering combination of steady, blackened occult structures, complete with chants and a touch of atmospherics. Rowdy drums dominate the mix with gravely guitars and vocals, and scrawling solos, but what keeps the music interesting is the wide array of styles that Weapon mix, yet still come away as cohesive and esoteric. Be it the direct, raucous black thrash of “Moretm Pyre (In Darkness & Blood)” the more blistering yet labyrinthine, menacing throes of “Archana”, the slow developing mood and acoustics of “Drakonian Paradigm: The Flame Of All”, Weapon certainly knows how to create a record of multiple vaguely creepy, elements, even injecting some Middle Eastern mystique into closer “Remnants Of A Burnt Mosque”.
That all being said, there’s nothing on Draconian Paradigm that’s truly unnerving or unsettling as I think the band would like. Despite their imagery and themes, the thrash dominates the music more than the black metal, So there’s less Ayat, Dagon or Teitanblood nastiness and ickiness which I think the band wants, and much more of a thrash revival with some occult elements.
Still, a pretty solid record and a band definitely worth keeping an eye, as if they can inject some of their imagery and lyrics into their music, they could come up with something pretty special.
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Samael are a Greek band now?
Solid album, if a bit unspectacular !
on Nov 9th, 2009 at 11:07Erik it took me a good number of listens to really digest this album. At first it all sounded a bit too plodding but slowly the songs really began to click into place. One of my favorite albums of 2009 now.
on Nov 9th, 2009 at 16:39Very Inquisition-y. More ritualistic than bestial. I really dig this strain of bm.
on Nov 10th, 2009 at 13:06This album is a solid effort, one of my favorite releases of 2009.
on Nov 14th, 2009 at 01:05