Review from Lords of Metal:
Two years ago we received a good-looking promo package from the band De Profundis, hailing from Great Britain. Their debut album ‘Beyond Redemption’ was self-released, but the music was so amazing that I predicted that the successor would surely see the light of day, supported by a label. And so it happened: in November the London residing band signed a contract with Kolony Records and ‘A Bleak Reflection’ is launched at the world.
Many things happened in the meantime and the praiseworthy do-it-yourself mentality of these guys sometimes achieved surprising results. Examples? They toured the U.K. with French band Misanthrope and a distribution deal with Holy Records came out of this. Another result is that ‘A Bleak Reflection’ could be recorded with French producer Fernando Pereira Lopes (he also did the latest Misanthrope record). For the mastering they turned to Tim Turan again, as with the debut. Another amazing feat: De Profundis played in India in February 2009 supporting Iron Maiden. Next came a deal with Sony BMG and the debut was distributed in India. By now they hit the stages even in Romania and Portugal.
De Profundis was founded in November 2005 by vocalist Craig Land and guitarist Roman Subbotin. Also second guitar player Shoi Sen is a permanent member, but the rhythm section always suffered with many changes. This album is recorded with Arran McSporran on bass and Nick Tingle behind the drums. ‘A Bleak Reflection’ has a melancholic doom nature, but death and black influences give it the right uppercut. Seventy minutes of magnificent death/doom metal it is with more than average technical intricacies. Especially fretless bass parts are mixed in the front, but there is also a wide range of melodious guitar solos, which serpentine through the lengthy compositions. ‘The Ephemerial Burden’ sneaks humbly into your room with piano, plucking guitars and violins. This loveliness is rudely disturbed from the heavy riffs of ‘Ablaze In Autumn’s Fire’ on. Craig Land has a low-pitched, gravel-throated growl, a bit reminiscent with Matt Lawson of The Prophecy, but there are no clean vocals except for some whisperings and dark spoken fragments. We do hear a scream-like variant, adding a semblance of black into the music, invigorated with pithy accelerations. The holy doom trinity of Yorkshire has had its influence, but De Profundis can be proud of an identity and sound of their own. The long songs brim with breaks with calm passages and guest musician Pippa Mason adds a few cello sounds (outro ‘The Mourner’). ‘Longing’ is an instrumental song in which even some classical and jazzy elements loom up. Surely ‘Cease To Be’ is of an incredible beauty and intensity. In despite of the complexity, a firm amount of brutality and roughness is maintained. Soon the band will embark on a short European tour with Ragnarok and Noctum. The undersigned will be present!
» view product details

Third full length of this great progressive/melodic death metal band from Andorra!

Review from Lords of Metal:
Persefone remains one of the undiscovered, secret gems of this European continent. Earlier they have released two amazing albums that should have forced a breakthrough – in normal conditions – but it did not cause that much ripples. In Japan it is different. Strangely enough the band seems to do it quite well over there and consequently albums are released in the land of the rising sun long before we get notice of them here. Anyway, is it a wonder that Persefone – they hail from Andorra – focused on a Japanese theme for their third album? Their previous album ‘Core’ was a concept album about the Greek goddess Persephone. ‘Shin-Ken’ is abased on ancient Japanese war stories. It did not affect the global Persefone sound too much: melodic death metal with progressive influences is what we hear.
‘Shin-Ken’ is a musical adventure that takes more than an hour. Well, you have to take the time for it – that’s the case with all progressive styled metal – but then you start to have moments of recognizing all into this mostly hectic music. The six-headed band serves us with loads of (short) contemplative moments in between all these hectic scale cataracts. Every time we meet up with a title including the word ‘book’, it stands for an instrumental introvert moment, one time it is relished with the Japanese esoteric chants of Ikue Asazaki. In between those “tea-moments” they swallow the bait. Chopping guitar riffs (thrash alike), mauling drums and loads of guitar solos may be fatiguing for most of the people, yet I told you this all before: this is Dream Theater on speed. Vocalist Marc Partins has a low-pitched growl, but he easily puts this aside for some scream-like black metal passages (and sometimes with a core edge now – please don’t do this Marc!). Keyboarder Miguel Espinosa smooths the whole thing with his warm, clean voice. Think of Mike Akerfeldt in a contemplative mood or Dan Swanö when using his common voice (‘Crimson’ album). This is a welcome variation and his contribution is huge.
The band deepens its progressive structures, but on the other hand they keep going for a merciless harsh approach. Just as on many fine albums it comes down on a perfect balance between hectic brutality and moments of reflection in reveries. Persefone is mastering this well. In addition they engaged a well-known specialist for the mix and mastering: Tommy Hansen took care of everything being in balance and regaled us with a standout sound. Sometimes I feel like a voice in the desert, but let’s hope that Persefone will get more recognition with ‘Shin-Ken’ and not only in Japan. They are worth checking out!
» view product details

'Infini,' the final studio release since the untimely death of founding member Denis 'Piggy' D'Amour and addition of bassist Jason Newsted (Metallica) in 2002, perfectly articulates the many facets of this legendary, trail-blazing band.
» view product details