Evil Damn — Eons of Horror

Coming very soon on two different choices of vinyl and digital, Eons of Horror is straightforward death metal with very little flourish. It's fun, fast, gritty, and just down to business from the needle drop, but its determination and unwavering commitment to the old school ethos is what makes Evil Damn and Eons of Horror so appealing. One can feel the energy and death metal history flowing through the band's arrangement and playstyle, showing that this isn't an attempt at a throwback, old school sound, but who they really are. The title track opens up the mini-album, its storm and goat sample setting the mood - this is about dark rituals, the unknown, and the unknowable. With a higher guitar tone echoing into the ether while the chugging background riff speaks to the earthly carnage, "Eons of Horror" brings forth rough, shouted vocals and tight, tick tock drumming to complete the package. Allowing the guitars to open up the chaos, the riffs become the centerpoint to Eons, even though the vocals fight very hard to remain the focus. "Gods of Chaos" tightens the tonal range a bit, and along with the vocals and cadence, this one is very reminiscent of Deicide's S/T album. The pummeling picks up a bit with "Summon They Presence," its drums becoming the focal point with lightning fills and machine gun pacing. Eons of Horror blends really well, and the tracks are very cohesive. "Evil Dwells Out There" starts nearly seamlessly from "Summon," and the old school onslaught continues. Not to continue to draw comparisons, but the third and fourth tracks feel a lot like Altars era Morbid Angel, and that's a good thing. Ending the album on a slightly different note, "Guerreros de Satan" sounds like it was done during a different recording session, and has a bit less hazy production, but it fits the thrashier track better. 

 

Although they don't release new music very often, Evil Damn still excite the metal community when a new record drops. Hearing modern, old school death metal isn't very rare, but it's harder for newer bands to sound like they're from that period instead of just TRYING to sound like they're from that period. Evil Damn have been around and have maintained true to the old school sound, so their honesty, care, and devotion is evident and appreciated. Eons of Horror may be short, but it's a fun journey that will get many repeated spins