It was, and still is, a true pleasure to listen to 'Plagueswept', Haiduk's debut demo from early 2010. With it Haiduk, who is Luka Milojica, presented a quite characteristic take on dark, haunting death metal. Two and a half years later it is time for second release, the debut full length album entitled 'Spellbook'.

'Spellbook' is a concept album about, well... Spells! Every spell features an extensive text about it, and highlighted words are actual lyrics to a song. Conjuring his black magic, Mr. Milojica had different musical ideas this time around. Now it is time for faster, attacking alloy of death metal and thrash metal, with black metal coating. Most of the songs are fast paced, with a few slower parts here and there, if any, but rather straightforward throughout. Guitar playing is varying, from precise, technical and swift riffs to open-stringed coldness, and characteristic "swarming" playing. It actually sounds like swarming bees or something, weird and layered. Sometimes it reminds of Melechesh, like during 'Forcefield' for example. Vocal lines are growled low with power, but there aren't that many in the songs. In the end, it's deathy thrash metal with black metal elements. It feels like there was haste to complete a song, and very long they aren't either. The atmospheres conjured are quite dark and evil, but I feel the slower tempos could have magnified the feeling of dread. However, I don't get the sensation of a spell a song is about.

There are a couple of frailties on the album. First, the songs are too similar. Every trick is already demonstrated by half way the album. It just starts sounding very repetitive at some point. Okay, the closer 'Vortex' has some clear Slayer influences. While the guitars are well performed, and are the highlight of the album, the drum machine is used. And this is so very often a bad thing. I'm sure there went a lot of time to program the thing, but samples utilized are so "machiney". Repeated with fast tempos, especially hi-hat and ride cymbal sounds exactly like that. The bass guitar was left a bit too quiet in the mix, and therefore the album lacks of lower frequencies.

To sum 'Spellbook' up, I'd say it actually features some unique guitar playing. And a lot of riffs, that's for sure. But as mentioned, it all ultimately ends up being too similar, up to point where it's laborious to tell apart what song is playing. Sadly, I find it rather boring, when compared to the 'Plagueswept' demo.

Rating: 6 (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Lane
11/05/2012 23:09