WEAPON

This is a big deal. I mean the follow up to 2009's superb "Drakonian Paradigm", one of the best black metal releases of that year. It was the album on which vocalist/guitarist/leader Vetis Monarch established WEAPON as a force to be reckoned with on the planetary scene, owing to his mystical and unique take on a form of black metal infused with death, thrash, and even traditional metal and a lyrical philosophy rooted in the man's equally diverse background, resulting in a style that set it well apart from his contemporaries. Hence, "From the Devil's Tomb" arrives with high expectations. Those expectations have been met. The album is as excellent as its predecessor, maybe even better in a cohesive sense, yet not its identical twin. WEAPON's new offering is again destined for year's best status.

Much like its predecessor, the nearly hour's worth of material requires multiple spins in order to appreciate its depth and inner secrets, perhaps even more so because of a denser, more aggressive approach. Everything from Monarch's sandpaper-rough vocals to a death metal leaning approach makes the first couple of spins a tad overwhelming, as one's focus, at least for those paying only passive attention, is more on the sheer intensity and less on the creativeness involved.

Make no mistake; "From the Devil's Tomb" is an angry, soul-flaying affair. There just happens to be a lot more to it. Opening tracks "From the Devil's Tomb" and "Vested in Surplice, And Violet Sole" hit like concussion grenades. But when the smoke clears you'll hear what turns out to be a distinctive melody line that attaches itself to the host organism on the former and seamless movements from tough, mid-tempo groove with sharp transitions to blasting mayhem on the latter. As we continue the journey, a peeling of the skins reveals the kind of exotic layers and mystic coloration that reminds of MELECHESH and ABSU in its mysteriousness and grand design. It is subtler on "Furor Divinus", most noticeably in cadence and vocal patterning and more overt on "The Inner Wolf", a song that also includes a choral melody during the introductory build and an explosion of blackened thrash just after the two-minute mark, interrupted by a chilling spoken segment. "Lefthandpathyoga" serves as a three-minute, somber instrumental with acoustic guitar and some trad-metal instrumentation, not the least of which includes one of the disc's white hot guitar solos. The use of electric sitar and tribal percussion during parts of "Sardonye" is just perfect, the song yet another highlight. A couple of seven-minute cuts in "Trishul" and "Towards the Uncreated" (complete with organ intro) close the proceedings in similarly magnetic fashion. In fact, once you've passed what could be considered the hazing rituals of the first couple of spins, "From the Devil's Tomb" ends up an album packed with highlights. Each cut is a black/death metal marvel of primal aggression and enterprising composition, a combination rarely achieved with any degree of success by most acts. That the album also comes with numerous neck-snapping moments and a bevy of hair-raising riffs serves to make the experience that much more satisfying.

You're either all in or you're out with this one. Once those claws are sunk, you can forget about bathroom breaks or selective track-skipping; you're staying for the long haul, whether you like it or not. Fortunately, the odds are strongly in favor of you liking it. With "From the Devil's Tomb" now unleashed, WEAPON will not and cannot be ignored.