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Sear - Lamentations Of Destruction

Published Feb. 13 2007


*
=Staff's pick

Introduction
Pedon Käsky*
Heaven Ablaze
One Throne
Fire & Death*
Purgatory
Destination
Violation Of The Soul
The Burning*
Hate & Scorn, Crowned With Horns*
Weeping Flesh*


Genre Death/Black Metal
Harri Hytiänien
Vocals
Tracks 11
Matias Helle
Guitar
Runningtime 38 Min.
J. Hentunen
Guitar
Label Dynamic Art Records
T. Landén
Bass
Release 05 March 2007
Lauri Laaksonen
Drums
Country Finland
-
Keyboard
Similar artists ---

Sometimes I feel all fed up with all crossover styles, I mean what's the point of mixing already winning concepts? Thrash metal has in my ears always been best in the time before the death metal contamination started. The same goes with heavy metal versus power metal. Not to mention all death/thrash/black combinations that daily terrorize our minds. I'm not sure if it's the music that is the weak link, often it is. But even more often it is all these files and genre definitions that irritate me. People feel a ridiculous need for control I guess. You simply can't put each band under a strictly correct file in the metal catalogue. The Finnish band Sear is a new proof to add to this theory. This time its about death and black metal. Wow..heard it before? Well, I will leave my annoying ideas around the blending of several styles and focus on both death and black, cause that's what Sear is about.

Lamentations Of Destruction is Sears second assault, released by Dynamic Arts Records. After the Introduction, which actually for once fills a purpose, it is time for ten songs of pure evil and hate. Just as many other Finnish bands, even Sear have a devotion to their beloved language. This can be heard on the macabre Pedon Käsky. Macabre is the key word, not that they sounds like a certain serial killing machine or so, it is more the meaning and essence of the word. Sear has a serious twisted sound, the death- and black metal aren't separated as in many other cases. Sear is death and black metal melted together somewhere in the purgatory of Dante's imaginary inferno. Never have I thought that it would be possible to combine the worst of worlds this good. But Sear present both Scandinavian and Florida rooted death metal and somewhere in this mass the evil waits, glowing and lurking in the shadows. And before you realise it you are laying on the altar of sacrifice...

Lamentations Of Destruction is an delightful nightmare. Sick and twisted, heavy, crushing and extremely well balanced in its song writing. The main part of the material is very aggressive but there are also room for some nice melody lines straight from the asylum, always with cruel arrangements on each instrument, especially the drums. The deadly grasps from vocalist Harri Hyytiänien shift between the deadly elements, consider it as a hellish bonus to this fire breathing demon.

Sear seem to almost have hit the bullseye with Lamentations Of Destruction. I have tried really hard to find failures and less suitable sections in the songs but I'm beaten. The high standard doesn't exactly follow all the way through the whole album but damn it's close. The bewitching tunes on Hate & Scorn, Crowned With Horns leave many bands behind. The flesh ripping Fire & Death leaves nothing but open wounds. These are mean songs, crowned with a fat and cruel production. Simply a damn good album and strongly recommended. Sear is about something that could be described as if Naglfar and Malevolent Creation, for example, would share the same stage and perform together. Brutality.


Performance
Originality
Production
Vocals
Songwriting

9

9

8

8

9

 
Summary



9 chalices of 10 - Tim


Related links:

www.officialsear.com