Last February we had the pleasure of presenting a lyric video for a song by the Australian black/death ravagers Oath of Damnation. That song, “I Curse Thee, O Lord!” was an eye-popping thrill-ride, both eerily majestic and utterly hellish, both atmospheric and barbaric. And there were a lot more thrills awaiting listeners in the album that included it — the well-named Fury and Malevolence — which was released by Gore House Productions in March 2020, roughly six years after the band’s full-length debut. Months later, that record popped up on numerous year-end lists around the web, and now we have a vivid reminder of just how good the album is.
Fury and Malevolence is brimming with well-told tales of darkness, horror, and ancient mythologies, and one of the most compelling tales is “Imhullu“, the track that opens the record and carries the listener into an unearthly world of titanic struggle and gargantuan bloodshed. No wonder that the band chose that song as the subject of the video we’re premiering today.
Eerie, menacing, astral ambient sensations open the video with suitable visual accompaniment, followed by a rippling acoustic guitar melody backed by a shimmering glow — a melody that flows through into the building storm that next ensues. Rapidly tumbling drum rolls and rumbling bass erupt into a fusillade of blasting snare munitions, sweeping synths, mauling riffage, and unhinged screams. The song continues to morph, rushing the listener through a gauntlet of jackhammering chords and abyssal growls, of darting keys and maniacally flickering fretwork, of scorching shrieks and mystical glimmerings, of magisterial fanfares and a blazing solo that takes your breath away.
The song is a spectacle of madness and majesty that hits with visceral power and really gets the adrenaline pumping, and it’s a kick to watch the band perform it. We’ll also share here the band’s own comment about this ravishing track and the video that presents it:
“Imhullu’s atmospheric yet brutal, straight-to-the point style is what Oath Of Damnation’s music is all about, which made it the perfect choice for the band’s first ever music video. Whilst the more creative and elaborate music videos are awesome and worth exploring in the future, I’ve always had a fondness for the more raw,stripped-back rehearsal room feel. It’s great to have been able to produce one of our own to share with the metal loving hordes at large. Sit back, hit play, crank it up and destroy!”
Gore House Productions recommends Fury and Malevolence for fans of Belligerent Intent, Enthroned, Marduk, and Behemoth. The album is available in physical editions and on numerous digital platforms, and you can explore all the options via the first link below. We’re also including a full stream of the album, which is well worth your time, along with today’s video premiere.
BUY / STREAM:
https://smarturl.it/OathOfDamnation
OATH OF DAMNATION:
https://www.facebook.com/OathOfDamnation/