Maximum Metal Rating Legend

Necrodemon Ice Fields Of Hyperion Company: Open Grave Records Release: 2006 Reviewer: Grim Gaijin

Rating 4.5

"Why change your formula if blackened death thrash is your calling?"

Several years ago, I had the pleasure of reviewing Necrodemon's second full-length release entitled Allegiance To The End. That album showcased a unique blend of blackened death metal and thrash that summarized the bands' loyalty for metal and a passion for creating extreme musical and lyrical content. Now, back with their 3rd full-length album, Ice Fields of Hyperion, Necrodemon have once again created a masterpiece of ripping, blackened death metal! Ice Fields of Hyperion, a concept album based on Winter and the evil of coldness, presents Necrodemon at their best. Every track, containing an element of coldness in its title, will have you reaching for your coat and mittens before thrashing around violently.

The Abominable rips through like classic Morbid Angel with touches of Attila-era Mayhem. From its cautious opening to the devastating pace set fourth right after, The Abominable is Necrodemon at their finest. Next comes Terror In The Snow, a rigid thrash piece with both death metal vokills and screams of hate. Switching back in fourth from medium and fast paces, it is a sickening tune that is bound to cause your neck to ache! After the short instrumental piece, Funeral In The Snow, Necrodemon unleashes The Deep Freeze - another classic Necrodemon tune that reminds me (in bits and pieces) of the first Dim MaK CD. Using a cleaner, more audible vocal, the song suddenly tears into harsher screams while the music pulses with urgency. The fifth song, Avalance!, is a death metal laden tune with a sick mix of both death metal style vocals and ear-damaging screams. The next song, Frozen Sorcerer: Chant of Making, Pt. 5, is a progressive tune that showcases the instrumental talents of each member. Slowly fading into Mesopotamia: Warriors of Ice, Necrodemon come back into full circle with a devastating number that shows influences from late 80's and early 90's metal bands such as DBC and Sodom. Empire Of Winter follows and again crushes with a very powerful blackened death thrash attack. With deafening screams and blast beats from hell, Empire of Winter is one of the most devastating tracks on Hyperion. The ninth song, Benumbed Suffering, starts off with a pummeling death metal attack and then speeds things up a bit in a terrifying fashion before retreating to the ultimate death metal ending. Up next is So Cold, So Evil. After a short acoustic intro, the song progress into a classic thrash metal masterpiece with some awesome double-bass drumming. The final song, Hordes Of Hyperion, is a strong album closer with its supreme versatility. Going from a slow, acoustic intro, and then into turns of both black metal and death metal, Hordes is a song that sums up the evil style that is Necrodemon.

Why change your formula if blackened death thrash is your calling? Necrodemon doesn't and continues to heat up the action with each release. Fully devoted to presenting the best that metal has to offer, Necrodemon has struck gold with Ice Fields of Hyperion. Not only is the album unique in that it is conceptually based on Ice, Winter, and everything Cold, but it is consistently punishing all the way through. As with their previous releases, Necrodemon certainly does not hold any punches as they continue to spread the word of metal to the masses!