About a zillionth Polish death metal album, this! Surely there has been classic stuff coming from this once-communist country, but also a lot of crap, due to sheer amount of death metal releases. Post World War II Poland, behind the Iron Curtain, was a tumultuous place to live in, and the waves from last 60 years or so are still hitting current points in time.
The b/w cover artwork is nothing new, but neither is the music inside: You know what you'll get when you see the album in record store's selection. The band's logo might make you want to check out what cover's spine reads, though, and the name itself doesn't say much (when compared to Aborted, Entombed, Fleshcrawl or Jungle Rot, for example). Kingdom, now there are quite a lot of bands named like this. These Polish maulers started back in 2003, and in October 2008 was time for this, their debut album. Anyway, the debut demo 'Horned God' from 2006 (also available on a split demo compilation 'Altar of the Old Skulls', also featuring Deathevokation and Mandatory) was nasty old school death metal worship, working rather well.
'Unholy Graveyard' too is filled with old school death metal worship, but this time around the production job is more up-to-date. It just slays! Biting and ripping guitars, or huge walls of distortion on slower parts, are the tastiest bits here. The album is best when listened via speakers, because the drums are a tad too loud in the mix, and they also sound rather artificial at times, meaning their triggered tone. The bass guitar is rubbery and bouncy, and stands out in the mix, too. The production is heavy, sound and somewhat chaotic. It would be good for a demo, but it sounds like it was done in a hurry, and probably by the band themselves. Surely it's better this way than any too modern and polished "clockwork" production job heard so bloody often these days, even in death metal circles.
Kingdom seem to be influenced by aggressive and evil US death metal. Incantation and Angelcorpse (Kingdom cover their 'Into the Storm of Steel' here) is mixed with old Vader stylings (up to 'Litany' [2000], mainly speed-wise with that album). The music emanates evilness, feeling like the gates to hell are opening, and attacks with might. The band is pissed-off. Kingdom isn't on Angelcorpse's or Incantation's levels in madness and mayhem as yet, though. The pace is mostly fast and blasting. However, even at faster tempos, the songs are memorable and mercurial at same time. Let's take an example: 'Crown of Thorns's lingering blasphemy turns into faster beating, and then to crusty Bolt Thrower-esque military refresher. Another one is 'Devil's Ritual', where band are at first firing like a Gatling gun, then through slower part to fast double kick drum and guitar solo stuff. 'Egzekucja' has an urban, distorted edge to it before at 4-minute mark the gates of slumber are opened and ancient evil enter with otherworldly melodies playing in the air. There isn't that much of guitar melodies, as the songs are riff-based. I also should mention insane, nimble-fingered solo work that is heard throughout the album. 'Transumanar' features nasty D-beat, lifting up hardcore influence, as does 'Blasphemy'. The title track reminds of 'Scream Bloody Gore' (1987) era Death. So, this is quite varying and therefore somewhat a bumpy ride, but still it doesn't fall to pieces. However, much of this depends what styles one likes and dislikes. I find the latter half being weaker, for sure. The vocals are low, gutsy growling, or throat-lacerating screaming growling, often presented together. The lyrics are very simple and into the point; blasphemy, war, death and mystical.
You'll be begging for mercy way before this album is over, but hardly none they give. And that's a positive remark, mind you. If you want to hunt it down, then prepare for a hunt that might not bring in any booty. I'm not talking about juicy asses here, but the brutal truth is, that the album was printed in very limited copies of 750. I think the reissue would be in order, eh?! I really do not smell any commercialism there! Open your soul and let evil in, and fucking start destroying!
Rating: 7+ (out of 10) ratings explained
Reviewed by Lane
02/18/2014 17:48
