Filthy Music Review - 'Lie in Ruins: Towards Divine Death'

Lie in Ruins – Towards Divine Death (2014)

Dark Descent Records

Review by Jude Felton

Without sounding like I’m flogging the proverbial dead horse, which in itself seems to me like a pointless pastime, I’ll tell you right now that we’re entering the realms of death metal, Finland and Dark Descent Records. If past experience has told me anything, it’s that this usually adds up to something special and you can rest assured that Towards Divine Death is something special.

Hailing from the Espoo, Finland, Lie in Ruins has been around, in one shape or another since the 1990’s. In the time since their inception though, they have had relatively few releases; a couple of demos, some splits, appearance on compilations and one previous full length album, entitled Swallowed by the Void (which was released on Spikefarm Records in 2009).

This should not matter one iota though, as quality is always far preferable to quantity. With Towards Divine Death though, Lie in Ruins have managed to fully encompass both quality AND quantity. For a start, the album bludgeons past the 70 minute mark, which may put off some listeners (somewhat foolishly), and each and every minute herein is death metal gold.

If some albums are happy to step up and beat you in a fist fight, Towards Divine Death would be the equivalent of being smothered in a full-on carpet-bombing, such is the unrelenting assault of the nine songs contained on this platter. Sure, it might take you a few listens to really get everything that is on offer here, and there is a lot, it’s also an instantly accessible album in terms of the musical quality.

Monolithic riffs constantly barrage the listener, the drums pound furiously and the vocals sit just below the surface of the mix, sounding something akin to a demon eager for release from its fiery prison. All in all Towards Divine Death is what death metal is all about, and it’s executed perfectly. I’ve no idea what’s going on in Finland right now, but whatever it is is helping to create some of the best death metal heard in years.

Set aside some time to soak in the blood-stained glory that is Towards Divine Death. Don’t be afraid to peel back the skin and peer below its festering surface; there’s plenty to find and enjoy here. I’ve lost count of how many times I have listened to this album over the past month or so, but each time I find something new. It may be something subtle, yet it is there, waiting to be found.

Dark Descent have yet another winner on their hands, which should come as no surprise, and Lie in Ruins are a band that you should definitely pay attention to. Towards Divine Death is heavy, oppressive, epic and oh so wonderfully ugly. In other words, it’s just what you want from a brutally aggressive death metal attack. This is an essential addition to your music collection.

Tracklist:

1. Endless Void

2. Charred Walls

3. Blood of the Dead

4. The Jaws of the Wolf

5. I Am The Dark

6. Sacrum Vitae

7. Venomous Tongues

8. Beneath the Surface

9. Of Darkness and Blackened Fire

Towards Divine Death is released by Dark Descent Records on February 4th, 2014