Satanath Records - Reviews: SODP156

Reviews: SODP156

A complete biography of the NY band Dimentianon would consume many chapters, and probably test the patience of most readers. The thumbnail sketch is that the band was born in 1995 under the name The Forgotten and then changed to Dimentianon seven years later after releasing a pair of demos, a debut album, and a split. In the ensuing years Dimentianon experienced numerous lineup changes, participated in many shows with numerous household names in the metalverse, and released four more albums, most recently the 2021 “comeback” album Dreaming Yuggoth, which emerged after an 11-year gap.

Fortunately, the lineup has remained stable since then, resulting in a new album set for co-release this year on April 14th by Symbol of Domination (Moldova), Paragon Records (US), and Pest Records (Romania). Entitled Chapter VI: Burning Rebirth, it’s an hour-long work that again features founding member and vocalist M, drummer and cellist Matt Hass, keyboardist and additional vocalist Don Zaros (Evoken), and guitarist/bassist Joe Fogarazzo (who also performs church organ on the record).

Once more, Dimentianon have interwoven ingredients from black, death, and doom metal, but the eclecticism of the stylistic alchemy doesn’t end there, as you’ll discover from the song “Black Angel” that we’re premiering today through a lyric video.

There’s probably a better word than “Arabian” or “Middle Eastern” for the exotic guitar melody that weaves its way through the opening moments of “Black Angel”, but those are what popped to mind here. There might also be better words than “horrifying” for the long gagging scream that appears, or “poisonous” for the grim sizzle of the guitar. All together, those ingredients, plus the ritual boom of the drums and the eerie whistle of the keys, quickly create a mood that’s ancient, mystical, and sinister.

The lyrics (uttered in a combination of cavernous growls, serrated-edge snarls, and chilling screams) are themselves ancient, mystical, and sinister. Around them the band carry forward that exotic opening melody while administering primitive, spine-shaking stomps of subterranean depth, heavy heaving riffage, neck-cracking drum grooves, and swirling astral synths.

Mid-paced at first, the momentum eventually slows and funereal bell-like tones ring out above immense chords of groaning hopelessness, casting a dismal pall on the mind. But the band also accelerate, drums hammering like pistons and the guitars swirling in mad and malicious fevers. What was once sinister begins to sound downright evil. And then that exotic melody returns, to worm its way into your head one last time.

The new album features cover art by Mystra, and it was mastered by Jos-Sothoth. Symbol of Domination, Paragon, and Pest will release it in a jewel-case CD edition with a 12-page booklet, as well as digitally.

Below, we’ve also included a stream of the album’s first single, “The Determining Line“. Like today’s song-premiere, it’s a multifaceted excursion. Perhaps even more chilling and supernatural in its sensations of gloom, it also includes melodic wailing vocals and wraith-like synths that add to the music’s ghostly, blood-congealing atmosphere.

The drum fills seize attention, as do the macabre harsh vocals, and the song includes pinging electronic keyboard accents drawn from musical styles outside metal. Scary, gothic stuff, but also perilously seductive….

https://www.nocleansinging.com/2023/03/10/an-ncs-video-premiere-dimentianon-black-angel/

Opening with a dark orchestral-sounding piece, “Inimica Malevolentia,” that wouldn’t be out of place in a David Lynch movie, the fifth album from Long Island, New York quartet Dimentianon is as twisted as the intro would suggest. Deeper into Chapter VI: Burning Rebirth, the band’s—M (vocals), Joe Fogarazzo (guitars/bass), Don Zaros (keyboards), Matt Hass (drums)—true intent is revealed: a crusty, doom-laden black metal attack that’s studded with melodic keyboard flourishes and funeral flourishes. It’s creepy, majestic and bleak.

It’s the latest release from a band that’s been at it for more than two decades. Chapter VI: Burning Rebirth was mastered by Jos-Sothoth and is set for release April 14 on CD and digitally. The release is a three-way collaboration between Paragon Records (Long Island, NY), Symbol of Domination Productions (Moldova) and Pest Records (Romania). You can order your copy here.

Here’s a quote from the label(s) regarding the new album:

“The band exists in a void where few others will enter. For the first time in Dimentianon’s history, the line-up has stayed the same for consecutive album releases and shows why they are one of the longest surviving, darkest cults the Long Island, NY scene has to offer! The feedback to the last album alone, shows that the underground is hungry for something new and not just the same old rehash that seems to plague most of the scene. This new offering needs to be heard!”

https://www.decibelmagazine.com/2023/04/11/full-album-stream-dimentianon-chapter-vi-burning-rebirth/