Drawing inspiration from the obvious collapse of the world, apocalyptic prophecies and their own journey of endurance across nearly four decades, Immolation from Yonkers, New York mark the end of days as something immediate and visible on their twelfth full-length album. Descent offers a vision of hell on earth, attacking everything it describes, standing on the failures of civilization with the band’s familiar contempt for the “cult” of thought and the uncontrollable systems of power. Beyond the subject matter, they have created yet another strong death metal release in their signature style — a familiar but sturdy record that follows the form they have built for years. And what a form…
Immolation formed as a four-piece in 1988, coming partly from the death/thrash band Rigor Mortis (not the Texans) and other musicians. They soon evolved into a core trio that remained steady for most of their journey. Their early works helped define the sound of death metal, while at the same time creating their own identity through restless, “crooked” grooves and distinctive dissonance. Their first five or so albums are rightly considered pioneering and have heavily influenced extreme metal overall. As I mentioned in an older review for Acts Of God (2022), I had first discovered the band as an alternative to Altars Of Madness around 1992, when a borrowed copy of Dawn Of Possession (along with The Karelian Isthmus) gave me one of the cleanest death metal standards I still have to this day. Since then I remain a fan, with Close To A World Below (2000) considered their absolute masterpiece.
What changed after 2007? A more practical approach toward stability. The band turned to a more “safe” evolution, something that for some fans looks like a decline. The shift to cleaner production and the collaboration with producer Zack Ohren led to a more homogeneous sound, somewhat losing the old underground feeling. The quality never dropped, the live shows even improved, but the songwriting became less “catchy” or inventive compared to earlier days. There are two views: some wait for a new explosion of creativity, others simply enjoy that the band continues at such a high level.
As Immolation approach 40 years of existence, their discography becomes increasingly “self-referential”, based on their own particular style. Atonement (2017) brought a slightly more “organic” sound, while Acts Of God (2022) simplified the compositions into shorter pieces. Descent limits the length, keeps more select tracks and gives more cohesion to the whole.
The first half of the record is among the strongest they have done in a long time. The opening with “These Vengeful Winds” immediately brings the familiar apocalyptic style. “The Ephemeral Curse” raises the intensity with sharper leads, while “God’s Last Breath” begins to deliver the record’s real power, with more aggressive riffs and rhythmic intensity.
In the middle of the album are also the strongest tracks, like “Adversary” and “Bend Towards The Dark”, which strongly recall earlier eras of the band. Overall, the album does not stray from the “recipe”, but executes it flawlessly.
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The main thing to say about Immolation is that they never relied simply on “existing”. Their consistency and their faith in their style is what keeps them so strong. Descent is exactly what most fans expect.
The second half of the record continues strong, with “Host” and the title track “Descent” standing out, especially the latter which is among the heaviest and most complete tracks on the record.
Lyrically, the band remains at a high level. The theme of humanity’s collapse is presented through a non-religious prism, with sharp criticism of greed, ignorance and the self-destructive nature of man.
Ultimately, what someone takes from the twelfth album of a band with almost 40 years of history depends on when they discovered them and what they expect. It may have some weaknesses, but it remains a very strong release.
Immolation remain one of the most stable and reliable bands in death metal. Descent may not be the best record of the year, but it certainly deserves attention and will deliver even better live.
