In die Abgründe

Insignium’s second release is a much farther step forward in songwriting, musical craftsmanship, and sound recording quality. They manage to keep the semi-lo-fi recording techniques, but this time they pull them off 100% reducing my largest complaint from their first demo release. They also have a lot more dynamic riffing within their music, personally I find it containing little to no elements other then black metal in it. They have an odd thrash-tribute riff in there, but otherwise straight black metal.

However, this is by no means a perfect release. The playing is still generic as far as the genre goes, with lots of tremolo picking and little differentiation on the chord uses, sticking to the traditional power chords and their variations. Many of the songs seem to remind me of the mindless dribble that Dark Funeral produces.

The vocals I find are a large improvement, having a lot more of a classic black metal feel, being very raw, with more black metal directed sounds then their first demo in which is was a developing but not really there black metal sound. I give them kudos to that.

Bass is rarely heard, and as typical for most black metal bands, not important. Nothing really more to comment on there.

Drumming is definitely better then there first release. Their first release was mostly all double-kick and blastbeats. Though they are still both present, not only is their more diversity in what they do (instead of limiting themselves) but a stronger technicality in the drum work and the double-kick and blastbeats are well placed and used. Mistakes are also rare and are kept hidden. Kudos to the drummer.

This is definitely a picker-upper for someone with extra cash, though I wouldn’t say go out and look for it. But if you see it at a store on sale, might be worth a listen and maybe more than one spin.