No one can get symphonic black metal right these days, and yeah, we can blame the hacks comprising of the metalcore scene for all but ruining this sound altogether, but the supposed “true” bands
of this style aren’t doing much to carry the load either. Case in point, Mumbai, India’s Demonic Resurrection, who over the span of a laborious 10-song album in the form ofThe Return to Darkness, prove that even bands from the most out-there and unlikely of geographic locales can’t help symphonic BM at the present time.
Leaning heavily on the oft-copied sound of Dimmu Borgir and Cradle of Filth circa 1998, Demonic Resurrection employ the usual sound characteristics (i.e. pompous keyboards, processed drums, and the spare clean vocal passage) to limiting effect. Minus the fact there’s an ample amount of brutality on display during “The Warrior’s Return” and “A Tragedy Befallen.” DR don’t do themselves any favor with song constructs that resemble a jigsaw puzzle and a distinct lack of memorable melodies.
Thankfully, there’s not a trace of any modern mojo here, of which would have brought down the entire operation altogether. Instead, DR keeps dishing out those knifing guitar lines and pulsating keyboards, with auto-tuned clean vocals popping up on “Where Dreams and Darkness Unite,” something the band would be advised to avoid down the road. Sparse redeeming moments included the unbridled frenzy of “The Unrelenting Surge of Vengeance” and pompous, keyboard-dominated “The Final Stand.”
Demonic Ressurection doesn’t totally scrape from the bottom of the symphonic BM barrel, yet their glaring inability to do more than adhere to the standard formula of this style is the band’s ultimate downfall. As could as it would be to have a veritable BM band from Mumbai, it would be even more cool if the bands so dedicated to this style would get a clue.
www.myspace.com/demonicressurection
(This content originally appeared on Blistering.com)