Not often enough is the symphonic side of metal given enough justice. Too few do we see an act come around that doesn’t manage to just deliver a worthwhile performance that can hold our attention but bring forth a piece that capitalizes on the opportunities that come with such a stylistic decision. Epic, sweeping landscapes should be guaranteed but many use it as a cheap vessel to make up for whatever flavors they can’t deliver otherwise. When I first came around to Sonus Mortis not even a year ago, I was well intrigued by what they were able to bring forth for both themselves and the Irish scene at large. With their forthcoming effort ringing in a decade of the act, it becomes clearer than ever that their talent cannot be understated.

The rate of production for Sonus Mortis is admirable given what they’ve been able to throw down in ten years. Sonic evolution has taken place many times over with it surely resulting in a lesser creation should such a thing been done by hands any less than capable than those of Sonus Mortis, and nowhere is that more apparent than the eight massive tracks within “Of Red Barren Earth”. No one and nothing is spared in the crafting of this expansive creation where we really see every aspect of Sonus Mortis’s incredibly eclectic sound brought together in peak fashion with each and every element having more than enough time to shine all on its own. From the uses of black, death, and doom metal, the dark symphonies that are intricately woven into every given minute of the record result in an experience that we’re only able to witness maybe a few times a year if we’re lucky. “Of Red Barren Earth” escapes the tragic fate of having a pompous air of superiority simply because of all that it tries to achieve, and it’s in the place that Sonus Mortis injects a ton of stellar competency driven by an undeniable passion for their sound to make the record as much a personal statement as much as it is a hallmark to the band’s talent. This is what it means to become absolutely deadly at your craft, and Sonus Mortis makes sure to make it a true display of mastery every step of the way.

Whatever is to come next, “Of Red Barren Earth” will cast an undeniable shadow over all that Sonus Mortis makes after this. Should their immense rate of production slow for the sake of preventing simple burn-out or to really put together something exceptional, Sonus Mortis should find themselves incredibly content and satisfied with what they’ve done here. This opus builds off of all that has come before it with the record acting as a peak for the band in more than one instance, yet I’ve no doubt that time will come to show this is not the highest of heights that Sonus Mortis is capable of reaching.

“Of Red Barren Earth” releases on October 25th!

LISTEN to Sonus Mortis on Bandcamp here.

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