Fall, Ascension, Domination

While you had Burzum's "War" blatantly taking its main riff from the black metal band Root, though still having other varying tracks, Brazil's Amen Corner, on the other hand, took on a larger influence by strongly gravitating towards this Czech group's particular setup for their debut album.

"Fall, Ascension, Domination" uses muscle to enforce its rule, and then other dark and shifting methods that put pressure on nerves just the same. This is unlike the now infamous, fast and grainy style that was picking up steam at this point during the '90s in black metal from Scandinavia. The production is fairly loud and even: the drums are backed by hefty weight, the bass is known to ears and the guitars are full and somewhat thicker with this effect that spreads their malicious ways.

The guitar lines only have so many updates and share more in common with heavy metal of the prior decade—well, at its most "heaviest"—than with using a saturation of tremolo techniques or abstract sounding chords. This is also somewhere in the vicinity of the Czech band Torr and Greek outfit Varathron at that time, though absent of the melody that was often infused in this last band's rhythms. Yet there are a few solos that are harmoniously played, and then others that go for finger taps and frequent use of these signature wailing whammy pulls. Amen Corner generally grab at the thickest of notes, while still managing to include some dives below the top strings. They can be more simplistic and aggressive with power chord and palm mute combinations, and at others play these floating strums that linger out into dark space, never knowing which area of danger it's headed towards.

The speed sometimes thrashes out but usually not for long, as this is mostly in mid and slower tempo. They often display a kind of energy that surges, causing your neck to go into spasms, and another that moves as an entity that swallows life inch-by-crawling-inch. The drummer is frequently tapping into the double bass pedals in either pacing, such as producing these intermittent gallops even when slowed down. The vocals mainly stay within a hoarse rasp from the throat. In combination with a surrounding cave-like sound, it uses an effect that morphs them into a kind of beastly animal possessed by evil spirits, and another uses a brief and ultra thick moaning growl/roar with a type of manipulation that brings them into the range of a towering giant. "Crowley, Master of Masters" has an effected main voice in the forefront, while a low chanting chorus fills the background with visions of low-set hoods and black rites.

This is also in the way of Rotting Christ, Necromantia, Ancient Rites, Samael and Mortuary Drape at the point of this release. This is second wave black metal that isn't afraid to have a weighted production, tempered solos, pumping double bass, thicker notes, a few acoustic interludes, some growls and a speed that's hardly chasing you down. "Fall, Ascension, Domination" is tastefully influenced by its predecessors, while still bringing their own spin to the mix, and you can count on it for moving along with crushing heaviness, while still managing to be dark and involving as well.