Baron "Beneath the Blazing Abyss" LP

Metallic Effect Vinyl. 

Finnish band Baron are straddling the styles of death and doom metal in a spectacular manner. In their faster, heavier moments, they seem to be a death metal band through and through but when they slow down, they showcase a wholly different dimension to their sound. They are able to do so without altering their imposing, crushing sound and the transitions in pace never seem abrupt but usually culminate into gigantic heaving and stomping parts as if a mountainous, infernal demon like the one on their artwork has decided to awaken after centuries only to mosh. It's the same the other way around, with slower parts building up to an apocalyptic rampage, volcanic fire spewing all over for added effect, and basically all hell breaking loose. It's only fitting that a Finnish band is tasked with this immense responsibility, with heroes from that land having already mastered both the styles and passed the skills down the generations. Baron are then indeed one of the most promising new bands from that part of the world, possessing the strength as well as having the sensibilities required to make this work, with surprisingly cohesive writing and clean, powerful execution.

For fans of: Deicide, Rottrevore, Abhorrence, early Amorphis, Convulse, Morbid Angel