I don't care much about EPs. In worst cases, they do not have any new material on them, or then the new material is going to be released on next full length album etc. in near future anyway. Depresy's releases have been hard to be found in Finland, so 'A Grand Magnificence' is one of the EPs I have enjoyed about.

'A Grand Magnificence' EP consists of 3 Depresy songs and a Hypocrisy cover. Depresy's craft is very melodic occult death metal. It's beautiful, in spellbinding and epic way, not mellow kind of "death metal". Greece's split up gods Septic Flesh are the band, that Depresy's guitar work reminds me of, and quite strongly (Greeks' 3 first albums). The guitar work is both metal riffing and twin guitar texture-style playing, not forgetting acoustic guitar. Some of the music is varying, as is tempo, but it flows on smoothly and compositions work truly well. Other side of Depresy's metal is more melodic Swedish death metal and bands such as Dark Tranquillity and Hypocrisy come to my mind (both bands' old styles). 'An Elder Spirit's Reincarnation' is Hypocrisy's 'Reincarnation', which Depresy make bolder and their own, including mystifying synthesizers. Depresy's own music includes some magnificent mystifying synth work. Kick drums are too loud, but otherwise this is well balanced. Maybe sounding a bit too "normal" for this kind of metal, and maybe lacking in reverb leaving it flat. The synths do add some atmosphere, though. Vocals are deep growling (again, reminding of Septic Flesh) or hoarse throat voice. Still, this is quite unique and definitely one to seek out for by every melodic death metal fanatic.

CD version includes '...And There Came the Tears with Christ' demo from 1995 as bonus. It is not quite as unique, but still very, very good piece of melodic death metal. Definitely more brutal, but with synthesizers and acoustic guitar already utilized. Sound is very good for an oldish demo. Not perfect of course, but everything's audible and surprisingly clear. Definitely not "recorded and mixed in 10 hours", heh. Great bonus.

A fantastic EP! Only thing I wanted: lyrics printed. Hordes dying to hear some good atmospheric and melodic death metal should hunt this one down.

Rating: 8½ (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Lane
02/05/2005 21:33