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Deimhal - The Grand Gathering - Reviewed By thoseonceloyal! Saturday August 19 2023, 5:33 PM

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Deimhal - The Grand Gathering - Reviewed By thoseonceloyal ! Check it out here at this link: https://thoseonceloyal.wordpress.com/2023/07/08/review-deimhal-the-grand-gathering/

Review by Sandre the Giant

Symphonic black metal is up there with deathcore as the genre most likely to disappoint when you read it on a press release. Both are capable of incredible moments and songs but often it is the laziest of genre cliches that fill them up. That doesn’t seem to be the case with Finnish symphonic black metallers Deimhal, whose new EP ‘The Grand Gathering’ has ‘gathered’ quite a bit of early praise. It is out now self released.

Classic frosty riffs cascade us into opener ‘Alliance of Winter’, bringing to mind Immortal immediately. A coldly symphonic background looms behind, but in a much more subtle way than I was expecting. Enhancing rather than overbearing, this is how to do symphonic black metal properly. There’s more than a little Dimmu in their icy gallop but ‘The Grand Gathering’ lacks those Norwegans’ penchant for the dramatic. ‘Ikuisen Kuoleman Kaipuu’ is a little off kilter, grim and yet their riffing and atmosphere is a little dissonant and melodic too. When you know there’s some members of Kalmah and former Catamenia and Enthring members involved, you can sense the connection to some classic Finnish melodic death too. ‘The Serpent King (Dumah-el)’ is a cross between late 90s Satyricon and Dimmu,a direct surgical assault with a sweeping backdrop. The symphonic elements definitely grow in stature as the EP progresses.

Closer ‘Vengeance of the Night Crows’ is where the full swath of Deimhal’s symphonic tendencies come to the fore, with a chorus of voices really reminding me of Mercenary at one point, and some gothic piano keys haunting some nice riffs. Deimhal’s work is just the right level of symphonic for me, it never descends into gothic theatre but uses it with restraint. It makes’The Grand Gathering’ a fun listen and it bodes well for what may be to come! thoseonceloyal

Release Date: 19.5.2023

FFO: Dimmu Borgir, Immortal, Satyricon

Location: Finland

Short Bio: Deimhal, a newly forged Finnish black metal group released their debut EP called 'The Grand Gathering'. The band is based in Tuusula-Helsinki, Finland and was founded by Mika Tönning, who is a former member of recognised and well known underground bands, such as Catamenia, Creinium, Dawn Of Relic. Other members of Deimhal are coming from bands, like Kalmah, Resolution 13, etc.. After Mikas careful searching and selection of musicians, the recent line up came together in 2022 and recordings of first EP started. The group's music style is symphonic black metal and resembles characteristics of bands like Dimmu Borgir, Satyricon and Immortal. ”The Grand Gathering”, four track EP was composed by Tönning and was recorded by the bands homestudios all around Finland. The tracks was mixed and mastered by Joni Borodavkin (eg. Dead Shape Figure, Embreach, End Of You) and is available on all major streaming platforms!

Check them out on YouTube!