Review by JD on August 29, 2009.

Canadian metal certainly is taking a huge steps in getting some well deserved respect in the global metal market. Being Canadian, I am proud to say that we are... but I will tell the truth as well! I do not overlook if a band is good or if they really do suck donkeys ass in the end. That said, enter in now... FLH, a Quebec Canada based metal band. The question is this good or does it suck?

On first listen through the CD, I am completely struck by the sheer diversity of metal the band seems to produce. There are so many styles of metal living on the album, and every last one of them in what can be called as working in total harmony. Many bands over the years have tried to do something like this, yet has failed miserably... FLH seemed to crack the elusive code to make it all work out..

You got some major old school thrash in here banging away with some killer vocals which makes any headbanger feel the need for the horns in the air. Then comes a track that could be described as being almost a epic styled Doom Metal that made me smile (Whispering Memories)... a classic song already. There is even some stripped down yet so incredibly passionate Speed/Power metal tracks through the rest of the album. All of it is completely over the top musically, the do pack a punch that would make Mike Tyson proud and all with class that is unheard of is a young band.

For some bands, trying to have so many varying styles is not a good sign.... and for most chimes a death sentence for any band while alerting the listener to a group having a personality crisis. With FLH, that is not the case, far from the truth. FLH showcases that they do not want to be tagged just one style or another, and just be a metal band... if they ever were, their originality and creativity could be suppressed or even killed off.

Iffy production hampers the album a little in different parts of the album, but never once does it detracts from the brutality, power or the honesty either. FLH’s "Darkness Remains" is a true shining star for Canadian metal no matter if I say it or not... so I just will shout to the world, some simple advice from one metalhead to many metalheads.. Listen to it, Dammit!!!

Categorical Rating Breakdown　

Musicianship: 9
Atmosphere: 9
Production: 8
Originality: 8.5
Overall: 9.5

Rating: 8.8 out of 10

Review by JD on August 29, 2009.

Canadian metal certainly is taking a huge steps in getting some well deserved respect in the global metal market. Being Canadian, I am proud to say that we are... but I will tell the truth as well! I do not overlook if a band is good or if they really do suck donkeys ass in the end. That said, enter in now... FLH, a Quebec Canada based metal band. The question is this good or does it suck?

On first listen through the CD, I am completely struck by the sheer diversity of metal the band seems to produce. There are so many styles of metal living on the album, and every last one of them in what can be called as working in total harmony. Many bands over the years have tried to do something like this, yet has failed miserably... FLH seemed to crack the elusive code to make it all work out..

You got some major old school thrash in here banging away with some killer vocals which makes any headbanger feel the need for the horns in the air. Then comes a track that could be described as being almost a epic styled Doom Metal that made me smile (Whispering Memories)... a classic song already. There is even some stripped down yet so incredibly passionate Speed/Power metal tracks through the rest of the album. All of it is completely over the top musically, the do pack a punch that would make Mike Tyson proud and all with class that is unheard of is a young band.

For some bands, trying to have so many varying styles is not a good sign.... and for most chimes a death sentence for any band while alerting the listener to a group having a personality crisis. With FLH, that is not the case, far from the truth. FLH showcases that they do not want to be tagged just one style or another, and just be a metal band... if they ever were, their originality and creativity could be suppressed or even killed off.

Iffy production hampers the album a little in different parts of the album, but never once does it detracts from the brutality, power or the honesty either. FLH’s "Darkness Remains" is a true shining star for Canadian metal no matter if I say it or not... so I just will shout to the world, some simple advice from one metalhead to many metalheads.. Listen to it, Dammit!!!

Categorical Rating Breakdown　

Musicianship: 9
Atmosphere: 9
Production: 8
Originality: 8.5
Overall: 9.5

Rating: 8.8 out of 10

Review by Brian on February 14, 2014.

I have always enjoyed extreme music. I love when bands push the limits as far as they can. When something sounds incoherent upon first listen, but actually starts make more sense the more you listen, I get a warm feeling inside. In recent years I have enjoyed the works of Portal and Terra Tenebrosa for this reason. When I read the description of Empire of the Scourged I was intrigued. Avant-garde industrial death metal.

From the Netherlands, Empire of the Scourged have released their five song debut EP titled Transcend Into Oblivion. Combining extremely heavy guitar tones, deep guttural growls, a touch of black metal here and there, eerie keyboards and a generous amount of industrial style electronic beats. It's as if the noisiest, heaviest of death and black metal come together with Front Line Assembly. An even more extreme and eclectic version of Genghis Tron.

All five tracks on Transcend Into Oblivion are heavy as all hell and all five are memorable. However, there are two that stand out. The first of those being "Trapped in This Massive Process". It begins with a sci-fi type of sound effect, an eerie little keyboard passage, then the industrial drum machine. This all leads up to an ultra heavy death metal riff accompanied by deep death growls. The death riff trades off with a beat driven industrial passage. The big surprise comes at the three minute mark, when it transitions to doom metal. Slow single note guitar with a bell chiming. It then wraps up with a full on blackened death metal assault. The second of these would be "Foul Machinations of a Hollow Spirit". This song is the most industrial of the five tracks. In fact it is an industrial song. Erratic drum machine with lots of interesting sound effects produced by the keyboard. There is also female vocals and very few guitar riffs. This is the most interesting of the five tracks as well.

Empire of the Scourged succeed at creating something unique and interesting. The worst part of Transcend Into Oblivion is that it's too short. Clocking in at just above twenty-six minutes it leaves me wanting more. I can only hope there is as much energy and originality when they decide to record a full length.

Categorical Rating Brakedown

Musicianship: 7.5
Atmosphere: 7
Production: 7.5
Originality: 7.5
Overall: 7

Rating 7.3 out of 10

Review by Brian on February 14, 2014.

I have always enjoyed extreme music. I love when bands push the limits as far as they can. When something sounds incoherent upon first listen, but actually starts make more sense the more you listen, I get a warm feeling inside. In recent years I have enjoyed the works of Portal and Terra Tenebrosa for this reason. When I read the description of Empire of the Scourged I was intrigued. Avant-garde industrial death metal.

From the Netherlands, Empire of the Scourged have released their five song debut EP titled Transcend Into Oblivion. Combining extremely heavy guitar tones, deep guttural growls, a touch of black metal here and there, eerie keyboards and a generous amount of industrial style electronic beats. It's as if the noisiest, heaviest of death and black metal come together with Front Line Assembly. An even more extreme and eclectic version of Genghis Tron.

All five tracks on Transcend Into Oblivion are heavy as all hell and all five are memorable. However, there are two that stand out. The first of those being "Trapped in This Massive Process". It begins with a sci-fi type of sound effect, an eerie little keyboard passage, then the industrial drum machine. This all leads up to an ultra heavy death metal riff accompanied by deep death growls. The death riff trades off with a beat driven industrial passage. The big surprise comes at the three minute mark, when it transitions to doom metal. Slow single note guitar with a bell chiming. It then wraps up with a full on blackened death metal assault. The second of these would be "Foul Machinations of a Hollow Spirit". This song is the most industrial of the five tracks. In fact it is an industrial song. Erratic drum machine with lots of interesting sound effects produced by the keyboard. There is also female vocals and very few guitar riffs. This is the most interesting of the five tracks as well.

Empire of the Scourged succeed at creating something unique and interesting. The worst part of Transcend Into Oblivion is that it's too short. Clocking in at just above twenty-six minutes it leaves me wanting more. I can only hope there is as much energy and originality when they decide to record a full length.

Categorical Rating Brakedown

Musicianship: 7.5
Atmosphere: 7
Production: 7.5
Originality: 7.5
Overall: 7

Rating 7.3 out of 10