Review by Michael on February 9, 2021.

With All Light Swallowed the Lithuanians Crypts of Despair present us their second album. Whereas their first album The Stench of The Earth, if you can believe the information from Metal-Archives, was just released as a cassette in an edition of 20 pieces All Light Swallowed will be released via Transcending Obscurity Records; a name that will surely attract the attention of some listeners, as the Indian label has become a reliable gathering place for interesting death metal bands. 

The cover is very invitingly gloomy and lets expect a sinister atmosphere. By the way, it reminds me a lot of the last but one Ascension album "The Dead of the World". So purely visually already a clear "thumbs up" for the album.

Now we come to the really essential part, the music. After a few cymbal hits the listener is overwhelmed by pretty intense, partly dissonant death metal. The songs are mostly bludgeoned through at an incredibly fast pace, but the band finds just the right moments on the album to take their foot off the gas pedal. Through the good interweaving between fast and slow passages, Crypts of Despair manage to create a pretty dark, in places oppressive album. The melodies that the band plays do the rest. The change of vocal register (the band has two singers) between deep growls and higher screams also makes the songs very varied. You can practically feel the gloom that this album spreads through its title alone. All Light Swallowed has become a flawless OSDM album, which makes no compromises or trends, but simply spreads pure hopelessness and despair.

Particularly noteworthy songs are 'Anguished Exhale', which has quite catchy and also nasty doomy parts in parts, 'Condemned to Life', which presents surprising leads and 'Disgust', which is an absolutely hateful song (what a fitting title), in which the two singers present a "wonderful" duet. Only the last song 'Bleak View' the band could have perhaps saved for themselves, as this is a (to my ears) rather boring instrumental piece that doesn't really fit into the overall structure of the CD.

The production is absolutely convincing, every instrument is clearly recognizable and the vocals are also powerful and sonorous. Nothing sounds overdriven or underproduced, all is very powerful and clear. I would argue that the band has done everything right here.

What is the conclusion now? If you like dark OSDM in the style of Krypts, Disma, Chthe'ilist and consorts, you will like All Light Swallowed. Except for the last track, I can't really find anything to criticize about the release. Well done guys!!!

Rating: 9.2 out of 10

Review by JD on March 16, 2011.

I remember one of this German outfit other albums ("Ashes Of Existence") that I reviewed a few years back. I recall that I was confused with the album. There was this feel of pure magic, but the band had not brought that to the forefront to show the great talent they have, they seemed musically flat. Now with the release of their EP "In The Wake Of My Demise" I see if they have finally got it right.

Mixing the power of Children Of Bodom with smatterings of Iron Maiden and Technocracy and a wee bit of Nightwish and Melodic Death Metal they come out sounding fresh and better than ever. With melodies that soar and pounding rhythms that explode out they finally find their form and now are what they have been trying for. They may use the influences of all of these bands and more, but they have developed a sound that is unique and powerful out of using their God given talents.

This four song EP is amazing, aside from being way too short, proving that bands that strive to get better do. BOL clearly are a band that has come into their own and are handing the metal world a small slice of heaven. It was exactly what I had been wishing the band to do, but they have surpassed even my hopes. Each song is a gem, and will just get better with each play.

Buy or die is so 80's but fits here. This is a EP that is so good, you can overlook the fact that this was a EP to begin with. It is just another step for Burden Of Life rise to the metal apex. Truly, this is a album that really delivers some of the best metal, and is better than their last album by leaps and bounds. Just go out and buy the thing, ok?

Categorical Rating Breakdown

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

Rating: 8.0 out of 10