NINTH REALM - Damnation's Veil

Intro 'Valigeth' sets the tone with mysterious sounds that gradually grow in intensity, almost like wandering deeper into a cave in search of their source. Just when you feel as though you are getting closer, the atmosphere shifts and takes on a noticeably darker character. An intriguing introduction that leaves one question hanging in the air: what exactly is waiting for us on the other side? 

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'Damnation's Veil' answers that question without hesitation, charging forward with epic, almost battle-ready melodies. Slow, brooding drums collide with faster riffing to create an interesting sense of tension, while the harsh, cutting vocals fit naturally into the increasingly hostile atmosphere. Throughout the track, distorted and menacing riffs continue to cascade over demanding drums, maintaining a constant sense of momentum and aggression. The gates are open, and NINTH REALM clearly has no intention of welcoming us gently.

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'Imbued in Hellfire' follows a similarly uncompromising path, opening with epic yet fear-inducing melodies before relentless drumming and furious cymbal work tear through the composition. Raw, almost animalistic vocals add another layer of aggression, perfectly matching the track's hostile character. The song certainly carries its title for a reason, there is little room for calm or escape here, just a relentless blaze of death/thrash hellfire.

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Complete chaos arrives in the form of 'Rituals in Thar’amath', as neck-breaking guitar work immediately rains down with full force. The high-energy pace is carried by almost maniacal drumming, yet somewhere within all the madness, the track still manages to maintain an infectious groove. Towards the end, marching rhythms and a thick bass line shift the atmosphere once more, creating the unmistakable feeling of heading straight into battle.

'Beyond the Void' stands as one of the heaviest pieces on the album, built around a crushing backbone riff that immediately adds considerable weight. Battle-ready drumming and epic melodic lines cut through the heaviness, creating a strong opening before NINTH REALM once again plunge headfirst into aggressive death/thrash and venomous, spitting vocals. Heavy, hostile and relentlessly forward-moving, the track leaves little room to catch your breath.

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'All Hail Treachery' shows no intention of slowing down, instead raising the intensity once again. By now, "Damnation's Veil" begins to feel like a journey deeper into an increasingly brutal battle, with the chaos and aggression growing darker at every turn. The relentless forward momentum remains intact, while a ferocious rhythm section keeps the entire composition burning with energy. If this is where NINTH REALM has taken us before the final chapter, one can only wonder what the closer has waiting for us.

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'Twilight's Blade' brings us to what feels like the final battlefield, opening with an almost doom-like riff surrounded by epic guitar lines and ritualistic drumming. The familiar brutal assault soon returns, but slower, brooding melodies are far more prominent this time, adding weight and a sense of finality to the composition. As the track gradually fades beneath sweeping melodic lines, the chaos finally begins to settle. After everything "Damnation's Veil" has thrown our way, it seems the battle has finally been won.

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With Damnation's Veil, NINTH REALM deliver a relentless sophomore album that turns death/thrash aggression into an epic journey through their dark fantasy world. Ferocious riffs, battle-ready drumming and raw vocals rarely allow the intensity to drop, while slower, brooding melodies provide enough contrast to keep things engaging. Fierce, energetic and remarkably cohesive, "Damnation's Veil" feels like a battle from the opening gates to the final strike.

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SCORE 8.5/10

REVIEWED BY SWAMPY