Review - 'Sidious: Revealed in Profane Splendour'

Sidious - Revealed in Profane Splendour (2014)

Kaotoxin Records 

Review by Trevor Proctor

Sidious is a blackened Death Metal group from the UK that’s set to unleash its debut album via Kaotoxin Records as one of their top priority releases this November. Revealed in Profane Splendour follows hot on the heels of last year’s critically acclaimed EP, “Ascension to the Throne Ov Self".

Sidous features members from Eye of Solitude within its ranks along with their latest member, Krhudd who also happens to be the mastermind behind black metal solo project Colosus; guitarist Isfeth also recently started performing vocals following the departure of previous singer Tom "Void" Allen. Revealed in Profane Splendour was recorded, mixed and mastered at Parlour Studios by the legendary Russ Russell who has previously worked with a plethora of legendary bands including the likes of Napalm Death, The Rotted and Lock Up. The very eye-catching album artwork is the creation of Giannis Nakos from Remedy Arts who has also worked with Eye of Solitude.

Revealed in Profane Splendour opens with Sacrilegious Majesty and from the very first note you’re gripped with its addictive riffs and militaristic drumming which conjure up images of armies heading to war – it’s a captivating start but just under a minute into the track Sidious pull the first of many surprises as a piano lead takes over and for a few fleeting moments breaks the heaviness. This tracks’ variation is a mirror image of that of the album in the true beauty within Sidious’ music is the richness of sound they’re capable of along with the many varied influences and styles they bring to the table – their music is by measure hard to over define and it’s never predictable. 

At times full-on death metal is the order of the day whilst at others it’s a black metal orientated style. This is an album of contrasting sounds with Sidious ensuring their music is never formulaic by switching from style to style with the greatest of ease and never keeping the tempo or styles the same for more than a few minutes at a time. There’s also variation within their vocal style which switches between guttural growls to shrieked black metal and even into clean vocals at times – all of which sit nicely within the rich framework of their music.

There’s so much more to Sidous’ music than just straight forward blackened death metal, the epic nature and magnificence of their music is regularly enhanced with symphonic elements, synths and many other effects throughout to add a nice variety to their sound. The production on the album is quite high which may discourage some so-called purists but there’s no way an album of this standard could have been recorded in a bedroom or even a cave for that matter. 

Well and highly produced I agree; but Revealed in Profane Splendour never feels too clinical or polished - this is magnificent, epic music that required befitting treatment in the studio. If you’re looking something just a little bit different and varied from the norm, whilst having blackened death metal as its beating heart, you’ve come to the right place. 

Magnificent. 

8.5/10

Tracklist:

1 - Sacrilegious Majesty

2 - Inexorable Revelation

3 - Revealed in Profane Splendour

4 - Annihilation of Abhorrent Credence

5 - Obscenity ov Old

6 - Infernal Reign

7 - O Paragon, Bringer ov Light

Revealed in Profane Splendour is released by Kaotoxin Records on November 3rd, 2014.