Review by Krys on June 8, 2002.

Are the guys starting to run short on testosterone or are we witnesses of a new trend? Woman in death metal - this might be the topic for an interesting article. Immemorial joins the ever-growing list of metal bands where females, in this case Marta Meger, are the uncharacteristic protagonists behind the growls and any other ‘typically’ none feminists sounds.

While we are on the topic of trends, Immemorial also joins an impressive list of quality metal acts hailing from the small Eastern European country of Poland. After so many years of domination by Vader it seems like the time has come for another young artist to invade the rest of the world. With already established names like Behemoth, Decapitated, Lux Occulta and Lost Soul, Immemorial are on their way to make a name outside Poland.

Mixing death metal with black and adding subtle melodic lines; Immemorial create a very interesting cocktail of death metal. Immemorial flawlessly go from a fierce, disharmonic wall of sound and blast beats to melodic parts with well-bred guitar hooks without loosing the intense atmosphere. Although this technically good quintet surprises the listener with maturity and already impressive song writing abilities, “Monologue” might seem a little monotonous due to the single-barreled vocal style used by Marta. Nothing against this woman who growls like a madman, but more articulated singing experiments would put Immemorial one level higher and add even more diversity and excitement to an already gratifying composition.

Much like on Arch Enemy’s “Wages of Sin” (Angela Gossow), for all non-believers that those growls actually come from a woman; the video of ‘A Nightmare’ was added as a bonus track. Considering “Monologue” is the band’s debut it is very well produced and edited.

Bottom Line: Definitely band to keep an eye on. There’s no doubt in my mind that we are witnesses of a birth of what might be a something very special.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 7
Atmosphere: 7
Production: 8
Originality: 8
Overall: 7

Rating: 7.4 out of 10

Review by Felix on January 8, 2021.

Bold statement: Experienced metal freaks can identify the inspiration source of a band without having listened to a single tone of it. You don't believe me? Okay, let's make a kind of quiz. I say "Honour. Valour". You say? "Pride". I speak of "Those once..." and you scream "Loyal". So now give me the role model of Just Before Dawn: "Bolt Thrower!" Yes, I knew it. My risky thesis is correct and you are an honourable metalhead. This is your applause! (Clap, clap, clap.)

Don't get me wrong. Just Before Dawn from this fantastic country called Sweden are no copycats who have created a slavish imitation without any good ideas. They manage the legacy of the British battleship worthily. This means they deliver all the emotions that characterize so many albums of their fallen heroes as well. Tides of Blood evokes - in no particular order - majestic, desperate, tragic, apocalyptic, sublime, wistful, demoralizing and fatalistic emotions (with no claim to completeness). Nevertheless, it also sounds fresh, lively and energizing. I am therefore sure that its creators did not intend to make a Bolt Thrower tribute but the best album they were able to record. And - surprise, surprise after you have seen my evaluation - I am convinced that this is a very strong work which has all aces up its sleeve in order to enthuse many death metal maniacs (and additionally even dudes like me who always saw death metal in the second row behind thrash and black metal.)

Despite the obvious influence from the United Kingdom, I would not say that the material suffers from predictability. Of course, the general formula does not score with originality. Yet only fools complain about this fact. Everybody else will agree that it is exciting to experience how this band makes good use of its room for manoeuvre. The mega-heavy riffs and impenetrable leads generate the wall of sound that seems to be the musical embodiment of a tank attack on a broad front. These divisions rely on the latest equipment and their destructive force makes careless listeners shiver. Moreover, the songs can be blamed for uniformity. Yes, they stand shoulder to shoulder like soldiers that feel the need to experience the comradeship of their fellow sufferers for the last time. But exactly like these (seemingly unknown) soldiers, the songs have their own unique personality - you just need a close look, or, more precisely, an undisturbed listening session. Better still, the fact that all pieces are cut from the same cloth has an interesting effect. "Tides of Blood" belongs to these outputs where the whole is more than the sum of its part. The monolithic architecture of the full-length forms a real monument.

Another detail makes the comparison with Bolt Thrower inevitable. Just Before Dawn present various vocalists on Tides of Blood, but Dave Ingram, the grand leveller, holds the lion's share. As you probably know, he has been responsible for the vocals on "Honour - Valour - Pride'' as well. He becomes better and better - or is this just the modern recording technique that makes him sound so fantastic? Or a combination of both? Either way, this well-versed war correspondent performs in an overwhelming manner. His voice has this demonic and atrocious touch that completes the picture. It is not easy to withstand the massive, extremely dense and powerful noise of the instrumentalists. An ear splitting inferno breaks loose as soon as 'Day of Days' sets in. The first regular track after the relatively senseless intro is an absolutely deadly weapon, but, good news, the here reviewed work does not belong to those albums which should have been a single. This opener is no trap, but it defines the direction of the full-length. Further tracks achieve a splendid level, for example 'Battle for the Bridge', the title track, 'Civilian Alliance' or 'Spirit of the Blitz'. Never before have melancholy and brutality been so close to each other.

Whenever the double bass drum drives the songs forward, I am listening to a feast of heaviness and devastation. These are the parts when the tanks are rolling and firing, while the doleful sections deliver the soundtrack for a fallen comrade's funeral at dawn (or "just before dawn", who knows?) Although a song title like 'Bombs over Bremen' (another musically outstanding piece) makes my German heart bleed, I must say that I am really impressed by this gargantuan full-length. Just Before Dawn has the potential to become a force to be reckoned with. Their fighting spirit is enormous. Hopefully, some more outputs document that their battle is raging on and on.

Rating: 8.9 out of 10

Review by Adam M on December 22, 2014.

Calm Hatchery borrows some elements from the likes of Nile and others in the genre, but maintains their own type of Middle Eastern sound. There band’s sound is both ferocious and nimble to create a varied death metal combination.

Some of the band’s that are of this style can tend to overdo the technicality aspect of their music. Calm Hatchery manages to keep song-writing at the forefront of their musical mix to craft worthwhile death metal songs. The vocals are of a standard growled variety, but it’s the guitar work and drumming that sticks out on this release. Tracks such as Illusory World have outstanding musical performances that are put forward to craft intelligent songs. Although the band upholds a tradition similar to Nile’s music, they are able to create a successful niche for themselves. The Middle Eastern aspect could also be likened to Melechesh, with a similar mid-paced groove that is a pleasing aspect to Calm Hatchery’s sound. The band’s songs are also short in nature and with this type of music that can sometimes verge towards intricate, it would be interesting to see them extend the song lengths longer in the future. This is a small downside compared to Nile, a band that is able to easily construct songs of epic length and scope.

The songs are so tight and focused that Calm Hatchery are going to be a band to watch in the future, particularly if they start to become even more adventurous with the songs. Regardless, Fading Reliefs has more than enough power and consistency to have a huge impact on the listener. People looking for tightly constructed death metal with a nice Middle Eastern flavour should look no further than Fading Reliefs.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Review by Ryan on October 28, 2014.

Calm Hatchery represents a fruit allowed to rot on the vine. The ingredients are all waiting, but this road doesn't go to the winery. Instead, we have a lack of fulfillment, a gnawing emptiness, and a giant yawning mouth. The half-paced riffs and double timed double kicks vanish in the blur of an automated distillery, abandoning the listener to the loosest definition of liquor. Peach? Raspberry? Apple? Cranberry? All flavors are rendered interchangeable.

My reviews often refer to protagonists, but Calm Hatchery has the ambition and charm of a third rate band aspiring to be second rate. Our heroes are long dead, and the best that their squires can muster is an imitation of late aughts Behemoth and Decapitated. With Fading Reliefs, we the audience receive a dilution of two great bands five years past their prime; a dry heave regurgitated long after the party ended. If one strains, the ear perceives occasional dashes of Morbid Angel's cacophony and Nile's Arabic flourishes, but these cosmetic ornaments are hidden beneath an ocean of ennui.

For years I thumbed my nose and laughed at old school death metal purists, smirking as they cried foul over melodeath, tech death, and prog death. No more. This is safe, domesticated, middle of the road death metal. It's the muso wanker's version of "death Jovi," or rather "death Supertramp."

And the shame comes from listening to a mediocre band endowed with first rate technical proficiency. These men clearly possess the work ethic, but to what purpose? The monotony of practice and study requires a meaningful buttress of observation and introspection. I've never listened to these Polish death metal merchants before, but I feel no enthusiasm for a return trip. I'm looking under the couch cushions for a reason this band exists, and my intellectual capital keeps coming up short.

Long ago, a critic formulated the perfect summary for unremarkable albums: "well, this certainly exists." No further elaboration is needed.

Rating: 5 out of 10

Review by Adam M on December 22, 2014.

Calm Hatchery borrows some elements from the likes of Nile and others in the genre, but maintains their own type of Middle Eastern sound. There band’s sound is both ferocious and nimble to create a varied death metal combination.

Some of the band’s that are of this style can tend to overdo the technicality aspect of their music. Calm Hatchery manages to keep song-writing at the forefront of their musical mix to craft worthwhile death metal songs. The vocals are of a standard growled variety, but it’s the guitar work and drumming that sticks out on this release. Tracks such as Illusory World have outstanding musical performances that are put forward to craft intelligent songs. Although the band upholds a tradition similar to Nile’s music, they are able to create a successful niche for themselves. The Middle Eastern aspect could also be likened to Melechesh, with a similar mid-paced groove that is a pleasing aspect to Calm Hatchery’s sound. The band’s songs are also short in nature and with this type of music that can sometimes verge towards intricate, it would be interesting to see them extend the song lengths longer in the future. This is a small downside compared to Nile, a band that is able to easily construct songs of epic length and scope.

The songs are so tight and focused that Calm Hatchery are going to be a band to watch in the future, particularly if they start to become even more adventurous with the songs. Regardless, Fading Reliefs has more than enough power and consistency to have a huge impact on the listener. People looking for tightly constructed death metal with a nice Middle Eastern flavour should look no further than Fading Reliefs.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Review by Ryan on October 28, 2014.

Calm Hatchery represents a fruit allowed to rot on the vine. The ingredients are all waiting, but this road doesn't go to the winery. Instead, we have a lack of fulfillment, a gnawing emptiness, and a giant yawning mouth. The half-paced riffs and double timed double kicks vanish in the blur of an automated distillery, abandoning the listener to the loosest definition of liquor. Peach? Raspberry? Apple? Cranberry? All flavors are rendered interchangeable.

My reviews often refer to protagonists, but Calm Hatchery has the ambition and charm of a third rate band aspiring to be second rate. Our heroes are long dead, and the best that their squires can muster is an imitation of late aughts Behemoth and Decapitated. With Fading Reliefs, we the audience receive a dilution of two great bands five years past their prime; a dry heave regurgitated long after the party ended. If one strains, the ear perceives occasional dashes of Morbid Angel's cacophony and Nile's Arabic flourishes, but these cosmetic ornaments are hidden beneath an ocean of ennui.

For years I thumbed my nose and laughed at old school death metal purists, smirking as they cried foul over melodeath, tech death, and prog death. No more. This is safe, domesticated, middle of the road death metal. It's the muso wanker's version of "death Jovi," or rather "death Supertramp."

And the shame comes from listening to a mediocre band endowed with first rate technical proficiency. These men clearly possess the work ethic, but to what purpose? The monotony of practice and study requires a meaningful buttress of observation and introspection. I've never listened to these Polish death metal merchants before, but I feel no enthusiasm for a return trip. I'm looking under the couch cushions for a reason this band exists, and my intellectual capital keeps coming up short.

Long ago, a critic formulated the perfect summary for unremarkable albums: "well, this certainly exists." No further elaboration is needed.

Rating: 5 out of 10