Cover has wear and damage from use.
With Death Set the Beginning of My Journey, Dodsferd ascends to a new pinnacle of their career, delivering an album that is raw, unyielding, and undeniably engaging. This record captures the essence of the Hellenic black metal act's evolution, blending blistering aggression with moments of haunting melody, all while maintaining the misanthropic edge that defines the band's identity.
From the furious opening track, "You Were Talking About a Kingdom; What the Fuck is That!!!," the album hurtles forward with an unrelenting pace. The riffs are razor-sharp, balancing a grim Scandinavian influence with an undercurrent of punk-like defiance. Wrath's vocals are as harrowing as ever, his tortured screams slicing through the dense wall of sound with an emotional intensity that feels both visceral and authentic.
What sets Death Set the Beginning of My Journey apart from its predecessors is its sense of cohesion and the subtle yet effective diversity in its compositions. Tracks like "Suicide Was Created by Your Incompetence" offer unrelenting speed and hostility, while the title track explores more atmospheric territory, layering dissonant chords with melancholic melodies that linger long after the album has ended. The closer, "Light is Darker in This Swamp," stands as a highlight, combining a hypnotic, driving rhythm with a climactic blend of despair and ferocity that feels like a cathartic release.
The production strikes a balance between clarity and rawness, allowing the bass to add depth while the tremolo-picked riffs carve through the mix with chilling precision. The rhythm section, bolstered by Sardonic's bass and Bringer of Plague's relentless drumming, adds a rock-solid foundation, grounding the chaos with just enough structure to keep it compelling.
While the album's lengthy tracks occasionally veer toward repetition, this sense of desolation feels intentional, inviting the listener to immerse themselves fully in the oppressive atmosphere. For fans of early Burzum, Darkthrone, or even the crusty edges of black metal, this release offers a satisfying experience.
With Death Set the Beginning of My Journey, Dodsferd solidifies their status as one of Greece's most compelling black metal acts. It's a release that burns with passion, hatred, and despair-a testament to the genre's power to channel raw emotion into something beautifully destructive. |