Wythersoke – At War With Their Divinity

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7.0

• Band:
  Wythersoke
• Duration: 00:52:50
• Available from: 21/03/2025
• Label:

• Scarlet Records

Streaming not yet available

Handle a promo whose header reports in plain sight the wording 'Symphonic Black/Death Metal' (or relative successive money) can prove to be, depending on the case, an extremely difficult task, or an absolute pleasure. The writer, in fact, has never particularly appreciated – not to say 'at all' – the way undertaken by the genre in the years following the change of millennium, marked by many (too many!) Orchestral temptations and by guitars relegated more and more to mere accompaniment tool for the flourishes of ensembles of arches, woods and brass increasingly intrusive as well as, most of the time, inconclusive.
The promotional notes of this “AT War With Their Divinity”, according to full-length of the American Wythersoke, had done nothing but strengthen concerns, given that among the tutelary gods of the Washington DC band, Dimmu Borgir, Rotting Christ and Settticflesh are mentioned, Tre Act that have distinguished themselves, over the years, for the skied characteristics. Seeing, however, the name of the Hypocrisy ticking among the influences of ours has significantly reinvigorated expectations, generating not only a certain curiosity, but also making it blocked ill, almost unexpected, hopes, which, fortunately, turned out to be well placed.
If it is in fact true that, in this work, the orchestral arrangements are to say the least omnipresent, it is also equally true that they are entrusted to them, more than anything else, the task of giving thickness and atmosphere to the compositions, while the weight of the structures and the character of the same weighs almost in full on guitars, constantly engaged in the weaving of weaves capable of giving a considerable sense of completeness to the whole.
Just listen to the initial coupled “Purity Through Non EXISTENCE”/”Bloodlet the Lepers Created” to realize the importance that the work of the six ropes covers in the economy of the Wythersoke sound, between riff that, in addition to the tutelary gods previously listed, also evoke the spectrum of the most brutal and asphyxiating soft angels, Great technique and taste, as well as melodically very incisive and satisfying.
The abundant but wise use of orchestrations gives the overall picture a dramatic tone with connotations, sometimes, almost spiritual, bringing the overall atmosphere of this “AT War With Their Divinity” more to the Hellenic scene than to the Scandinavian one, although the references to the extreme north of Europe still remain evident and abundant during the disc.
The greatest limit of this album, despite the positive aspects expressed, unfortunately remains an uncontrollable basic derivativeness that prevents him from living his own light, but it is still undeniable that songs such as “Agents of Holy Death” (where ours demonstrate that they also get well on average times), the splendid instrumental “Gotterdammmerung” and the Title-Track Meritino are carefully listened to Lovers of the genre, who can find much to enjoy among the furrows of this “AT War with their Divinity”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-482ar45aia