One Listen Review
1st Listen 22 May 24
Reviewed 22 May 24
Vale of Pnath – Between the Worlds of Life and Death
Willowtip Records
Released 24 May 24
Denver based tech death metal bruisers, Vale of Pnath have returned with their 3rd full length album, Between the Worlds of Life and Death. If you are aware of their back catalogue, you may know that their last E.P. ‘Accursed’, the band had started to glide away from this limited genre.
BWLD as I am going to call it, is described as a ‘continuation of what we started with Accursed’, and it delves deep into a more blackened death metal sound that bleeds symphonic atmosphere. The result has a subtle hint of outstanding about it.
Opening with an orchestral palette-cleanser, it sounds like you are settling down to watch a film. It is as intriguing as it is slightly worrying – how far down the symphonic rabbit hole have Vale of Pnath gone. Will the grand nature of the album introduction be matched by the content?
Yes, by God, yes it is! BWLD is 9 tracks of bombastic, aggressive and cohesive blackened death metal. Vocally, Ken Scorceron absolutely nails it
straight from the 2nd track, ‘Silent Prayer’ where sinister deep growls introduce him to the album. His strong performance is noticeable throughout.
Also noticeable are the excellent, strategically placed, guitar solos. Many of these solos are played by guest musicians, including Christian Meunzer (Obscura/Necrophagist) and Miles Dimitri Baker (Interloper) amongst others. This is an album where the solos sit perfectly within the construct of the song and not just as a way of showing off.
I must admit to being a little apprehensive when I saw the word ‘interlude’ alongside ‘Echoes of the Past’, especially when this was the 8th track of 9. I dislike interludes at the best of times, but who on earth breaks up an album on the penultimate song?
Vale of Pnath! That’s who! ‘Echoes of the Past’ leads perfectly into the album closer, ‘Burning Light’, leading to a magnificent end to an incredibly enjoyable album. Between the Worlds of Life and Death is well thought-out, well-constructed album with top-notch performances from the band and various guests. The transition from technical death metal to a symphonic, grandiose form of blackened death metal is seamless, and the band are the better for it.
This is a seriously good album.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ValeOfPnathCO
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/valeofpnathco/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/valeofpnath
Bandcamp: https://valeofpnath.bandcamp.com/album/accursed
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/vale-of-pnath/323102735
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/31i0H73pagGhaNZ9YLgUYY
The DevilsHorns 
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