REVIEWS

Blood Dawn (www.blooddawn.de)

(translated from German)

The duo of E.M. Hearst (guitar, bass, programming) and Scarecrow Rottinghouse (vocals, keyboards, programming) already met with my tastes with TORTURE WHEEL, and the two Americans do it also on this debut, which four years after their founding has finally been released on plastic. Here, in contrast to the very collage-like and morbid TORTURE WHEEL, their alter egos indulge in (what the music's creators call) Horror Metal. WRAITH OF THE ROPES proceed with a far more metallic, and above all more song-oriented work.

Tenaciously flowing like lava and as massive as the cooling rock; slowly as a tortoise and heavily as a tank, Death/Doom of the Funeral sort creeps and crawls threateningly like a King Python over your body and around your neck and chokes from your life all optimism with tormented retching. A hint of Dark and Gothic Metal provides darkness, and a slight Industrial infusion generates a frosty cold atmosphere. Sound-track and film score elements stretch the tension of the bow further and further until the (on average) 10 minute songs represents an almost intolerable torture, in a positive sense. Scarecrow Rottinghouse's Vocals, sounding amazingly like the breath of death, perfectly complement the graphic and oppressive compositions. The sound is varied, clear and roaring. The release, limited to 1000 pieces, is rounded off very well, both acoustically and visually optimal.

Yes, indeed, it is difficult to capture this very deep acoustic event, with it's absorbing mood, mad intensity and decadent beauty, in words. Death can be so beautiful...

Score: 4.5 / 5