/ /    B L E E D i N G                       /     __\ _             \ \

:     Artist  :: Krieg                                               :
:     Album   :: Ruiner                                              :
:     Year    :: 2023                                                :

:     Genre   :: Black Metal                 Source  :: WEB/MP3      :
:     Label   :: Profound Lore               R.date  :: 2023-10-12   :
:     Size    :: 95.02 MB                    S.date  :: 2023-10-15   :

:     Bitrate :: CBR 320kbps                                         :
:     Quality :: 44.1 kHz/Joint Stereo                               :
:     URL     :: http://deezer.com/album/463372495                   :

:     1.  Bulwark                                              6:32  :
:     2.  Fragments of Nothing                                 4:16  :
:     3.  Red Rooms                                            4:55  :
:     4.  Solitarily, A Future Renounced                       4:35  :
:     5.  Manifested Ritual Horror                             4:58  :
:     6.  No Gardens Grow Here                                 4:18  :
:     7.  An Execution in the Kingdom of Ideas                 2:58  :
:     8.  The Lantern and the Key                              6:59  :

:                                                             39:31  :

:     KRIEG haven't released a full length in nearly a decade, yet   :
:     they haven't been idle. Following numerous EPs, splits and     :
:     collaborations, the long-running American black metal          :
:     institution is finally poised to unleash its first, proper     :
:     full-length since 2014's "Transient". Compared to the more     :
:     overt boldness of that album, "Ruiner" yanks the pendulum      :
:     closer toward the classic black metal aesthetic that the band  :
:     has primarily embraced. Within what seems like a conventional  :
:     framework is a constant transcendental quality that pulses     :
:     rhythmically.                                                  :

:     While literally dozens of cohorts have come and gone, KRIEG's  :
:     constant force, Neill Jameson, has remained since the          :
:     beginning. Jameson ù also known as "Imperial" ù has delved     :
:     into creative exploits beyond KRIEG, ranging from music        :
:     journalism to his involvement with numerous projects           :
:     including the "all-star" band TWILIGHT. Jameson always comes   :
:     back to KRIEG, though, and "Ruiner" is the canvas upon which   :
:     he paints emotions bearing brooding and pensive colors rather  :
:     than hostile and hateful, as they were during KRIEG's          :
:     earliest of days. "No Gardens Grow Here", ironically ripe      :
:     with lush guitar melodies, brilliantly expresses mournfulness  :
:     without eschewing the bite and snarl that's inherent to black  :
:     metal.                                                         :

:     On "Ruiner", KRIEG impressively stirs a profound sense of      :
:     despondency with melodious black metal that's succinct and     :
:     purposeful. There are no intricate instrumental webs. A shift  :
:     in pace in "Fragments of Nothing" from mid-tempo charge to     :
:     lumbering, fist-pumping groove is all that it takes to         :
:     dramatically evoke the direst of feelings. The gentle, clean   :
:     guitars layered at the forefront of the surging, triumphant    :
:     black metal attack during the song's finale adds a mysterious  :
:     element that elevates the track tremendously.                  :

:     Jameson and KRIEG really don't have anything to prove at this  :
:     point, which offers an immediate artistic license to color     :
:     outside the lines. They're not reinventing the steel, but      :
:     they do (slightly) push the envelope. The winding fracas that  :
:     opens "Manifested Ritual Horror" shatters abruptly, for        :
:     instance, as the band reconstructs the shards of the opening,  :
:     archetypal black metal riff into one that's more               :
:     hard-hitting, jagged and almost punk rock. Before anyone       :
:     might fear hipster pretentiousness, "An Execution in the       :
:     Kingdom of Ideas" explodes with menacing intent and rage, a    :
:     song unafraid to bare its teeth.                               :

:     On its debut, 1998's "Rise of the Imperial Hordes", KRIEG      :
:     expressed itself with the subtlety of a razor blade across     :
:     the face. Jameson and company are no less assailing nowadays,  :
:     but the auditory violence arguably strikes deeper              :
:     emotionally, crippling from the inside. There's a              :
:     sadomasochistic beauty to "Ruiner", an album that is perfect   :
:     for a late-night drive through dense forest on fog consumed,   :
:     rugged roads.                                                  :