THE BEAST

MDPR Clients: Empyrean Fire - Deliverance - Reviewed By Rough Edge ! Check it out here at this link: http://roughedge.com/cdreviews/e/empyreanfire.htm

"Deliverance," from Portland's Empyrean Fire, is a sweeping, black metal epic. With its crushing riffs, its pummeling percussion and its vast atmosphere, this album will roll over you like a fiery lava flow.

After a first track that sounds like something from an apocalyptic movie score, "Deliverance" kicks in with the appropriately entitled "Gathering Storm." The song does just that ... gathers like a storm ... and delivers a punishing set up for the rest of the album. And I don't mean to say that the rest of the album all sounds the same because it doesn't. One of the things that works so well about "Deliverance" is the variety of tempos, vocals and sonic atmosphere in each track.

Even more impressive is the fact that "Deliverance" is a concept album. According to the band's Facebook page, Deliverance is "mainly based off the poem written from John Milton, 'Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained,' originally published in 1667. 'Deliverance' is a sinister take on Milton's work, reshaping it with harrowing twists and malevolent revelations, each chapter a battle in the dragon's ascent to gain command over Hell on Earth. Will you bow down in battle, sunken before the spear?" Now, I haven't had the opportunity to sit down and listen to this record while reading along with the lyrics but I can tell you can tell by the music alone that a story is being told here. The tracks on "Deliverance" feel like chapters of a book.

 It's hard to put a finger on favorite tracks here because "Deliverance" feels like it should only be reviewed in its entirety, but I will say that  "Perdition" stands out with its steely intro and powerful driving rhythm. And the tracks which feature a multitude of vocal styles, including monster growls, clean vocals and female vocals, tend to grab the attention as well.

"Deliverance" is Empyrean Fire's first album and they pretty much knocked it out of the park. Fans of symphonic black metal, especially the Scandinavian style, will find plenty to like here.

The concept behind "Deliverance" was ruminated upon for years by front woman, Tricia Myers, after reading Milton's "Paradise Lost" and "Paradise Regained."

Deliverance is a sinister take on Milton's work, reshaping it with harrowing twists and malevolent revelations, each chapter a battle in the dragon's ascent to gain command over Hell on Earth. Will you bow down in battle, sunken before the spear?

Pre Order Here! https://empyreanfire666.bandcamp.com/album/deliverance

Releases December 26, 2020

1. Proclamation
2. Gathering Storm
3. Descent
4. Perdition
5. Corruption
6. The Siege
7. Final Battle

Tricia Myers - Vocals, Lyrics
Jason Yorke - Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Programming
Brian Rush - Vocals, Synths

Production & Concept by Tricia Myers
Mixed & Mastered by Jason Yorke
Album cover original painting by Gustav Dore'
Empyrean Fire sigil by Viktoria Polikarpova
Band photos by Jesse Lanier
Album layout by Empyrean Fire
Forthcoming Blasts: Michael Thompson
Released by Heavy Gloom Productions
© 2020

Follow the band on Social Media!

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCya0242W32bKGm4WrC2K4ew

https://www.instagram.com/empyreanfire666/

https://www.facebook.com/empyreanfire666

https://empyreanfire666.bandcamp.com/album/deliverance