IMMOLATION - Acts Of God 2-LP (Black Vinyl)

Limited black double vinyl, color hype sticker on foil, 4 page insert, gatefold cover.

It's almost a guarantee to count on Immolation to fill an album with catchy riffs and chaotic drumming, and of course, this one is no different. But even further, guitarists Robert Vigna and Alex Bouks work very well to provide interesting pinch harmonics and licks in every nook and cranny of the songs. "The Noose of Thorns" is a solid example, albeit at the expense of the odd ideas presented (possibly the only dud in the track list, but it's still passable). The guitar work on this song is just phenomenal, especially in the intro; the drumming is what holds it back. But even beyond writing run-of-the-mill brutal death metal tracks, Immolation works in numerous instrumental changes that keep the songs high-flying ("Immortal Stain") or gargantuan in size ("When Halos Burn"). As the band members have matured beyond the primal energy that albums like Dawn of Possession capture, they've also learned to grow as songwriters and as musicians. This album is technical, but not to the point of tepidity. It's progressively written, but still has a logical ebb and flow. And most of all, it's chaotic and very brutal.