Hellfire
-- When Plagues Collide --
17/07/2019
Stijn Daneels
Album genres:
| ■ | Symphonic deathcore |
Album artists:
| ■ | Wouter Dergez | Vocals |
| ■ | Joris Dergez | Guitars |
| ■ | Santy Van Der Mieren | Guitars |
| ■ | Bastiaan Barbieux | Bass |
| ■ | Siebe Hermans | Drums |
Review written by Glenn “Terra Shredder” Van Bockstaele.
When Plagues Collide is a Belgian symphonic deathcore band. Last November
I reviewed their debut “Tutor Of The
Dying” and both Stijn “Metal Shredder” and me were blasted away by the
force of When Plagues Collide’s bombastic sound (read our review here: http://belgianmetalshredder.be/reviews/98). I gave the album 90/100
but in retrospect I admit that I should’ve given them more, especially after I
saw them live in Zingem during the Wacken Metal Battle Belgium finals. Although
they didn't win, they did premiere a new single called “Elizabeth” and it was a
fucking great tune!
Now I’ve got the honor to review it and damn, this song is killer!
Beginning with operatic piano (handled by Australian pianist Misstiq, who is
specialized in providing adequate piano tunes to deathcore tracks) as well as
violins before marching drum beats and soaring guitar riffs join in. All the
while the song gradually builds up tension and eventually explodes into the
usual When Plagues Collide sound! Strong deathcore breaks, pounding drums and
screaming guitars. The vocals vary between guttural growls and screeching
screams and the excellent lyrics (dealing with sexual abuse within the Catholic
clergy) are sung in perfect rhythm with the underlying blast beats, giving this
single a rollercoaster pace. There’s a short cool down in the middle wherein
the vocals are slightly more natural and the piano takes center stage before
things viciously speed up again! And eventually, after the final,
double-entendre lyric “And getting
nothing but the blessing of their father” we get one short but powerful
breakdown before the piano soothes out the unrelenting deathcore violence!
A hellish orchestral deathcore single with a painfully contemporary
theme! For this single When Plagues Collide once again unleashed their entire symphonic
deathcore arsenal and I admit that with this “Elizabeth” tune they’ve done a
better job than ever before. Everything is just that bit more tightly written
and sounds just that bit more ferocious! Enjoy this new piece of savagery here
below, courtesy of Chugcore Promotions!
95/100