AN NCS PREMIERE: SHRINE OF DENIAL — “I, MOLOCH”

(written by Islander)

It was a daring decision for the Turkish band Shrine of Denial and their label, Transcending Obscurity Records, to emblazon the band’s new album I, Moloch with the above artwork by Juanjo Castellano. A daring decision, because artwork that frighteningly magnificent represents a challenge: Can the music really match it?

Well, we’re in the process of finding the answer to that question, an answer that has unfolded through two songs revealed from the album so far, and a third one we’re about to present today in advance of the album’s March 7 release date.

Today’s new song is the album’s title track, and it shows us how well Shrine of Denial have answered the challenge posed by the album’s stunning cover art. It is as elaborate, as magnificent, as sinister and otherworldly, and as dreadfully frightening as the visual, but also exotic-sounding to cloistered Western ears.

Although the drumming vividly clatters and smashes, the gruesomely downtuned riffage lurches, heaves, and crawls like some primitive monstrosity that haunts the dreams of adults and children alike, and Eray Nabi‘s gritty roars and raw howls are every bit as beastly.

But the song turns out to be more than a gruesome audio beast. With a quick cymbal countdown, the band cut the chains and mount an electrifying charge, with drums blasting, the abrasive riffing in ravager mode, and the writhing lead guitar tracing a supernatural, dervish-like melody that reminds us where the band are located.

Shrine of Denial continue changing the tempos and the veering and weaving nature of their instrumental progressions. The music does become daunting and ominously magnificent, but the solo that fires out of those looming chords sounds like a spectacle of sorcery, paving the way toward an equally exultant and even more lavish spectacle in the song’s final segment.

SHRINE OF DENIAL LINEUP:
Eray Nabi – Vocals
Onur Uslu – Guitar
Denizkaan Aracı – Guitars
Ahmet Ünveren – Bass
Berk Köktürk – Drums

Transcending Obscurity will release I, Moloch on vinyl LP, CD, and digital formats, with lots of apparel choices, all featuring that stunning cover art by Juanjo Castellano. The label recommends the album for fans of Serpent of Old, Dead Congregation, Emperor, Behemoth, Burial Invocation, and The Chasm.

Of course, below we’re also including streams of the two previously released songs from the album, “Climbing Through Nothingness” and “Temple of the Corpse Misuser“. Both of them are beautifully crafted, technically eye-popping, and relentlessly thrilling adventures through unearthly realms of menace and madness, with strong flavors from the ancient regions of the band’s homeland.

PRE-ORDER:
https://shrineofdenial.bandcamp.com/album/i-moloch
http://transcendingobscurity.aisamerch.com/
http://eu.tometal.com/

SHRINE OF DENIAL:
https://www.facebook.com/shrineofdenial
https://www.instagram.com/shrineofdenial