text: Oscar Wendt
Persecutory
Towards the Ultimate Extinction
Godz Ov War Productions
June 30th, 2017
There are not many bands from Turkey that I know. It’s not the region that I necessarily associate with good or any extreme metal scene. So, when I encounter bands like Persecutory, I’m happy to change my perspective a little bit. Playing a fair mix of thrash and black metal (with the emphasis on the latter), this Turkish quartet is just releasing their debut album, Towards the Ultimate Extinction, through Godz Ov War Productions. Is the music as good as the cover art?
I always like the bands that take it straight to the point. Persecutory does exactly that! It doesn’t take long to figure out that this will be a heavy and intense album. Upon the first listen, as soon as I got to the first slowdown, I got very intrigued (even though the weird screams were a bit out of place in my opinion). It also gives you that weird feeling of antagonism which is always an advantage when it comes to extreme metal.
The title track is almost 12 minute long and, with its complex structure, feels a little bit unordered. A little bit of everything that doesn’t necessarily bind together on the first listen. But as the album goes on, my craving for Turkish evil increases. My needs are satisfied with songs like Along The Infernal Hallways or Hegemony of the Ruinous Impurity with the first one bringing you another juicy slowdown. I think that it almost feels like Persecutory feel more comfortable and confident in playing the slower passages as the quick section don’t always work perfectly.
Also, not too much emphasis put on the sound but it does, however, work for the album quite well as it leaves it a little bit raw and unpolished. It’s also got this ‘spacious‘ feeling that definitely falls well into my taste. That gives Towards the Ultimate Extinction a sense of intensity, the raw power which some much more experienced bands can only be envious of.
Towards the Ultimate Extinction may not be a revolutionary album but it’s definitely a strong one! The one that, as for a debut album, is something that a band should be absolutely proud of. I think that Greg from Godz Ov War Productions has got this talent for fishing out bands that have a very strong start and may get better with time. I’m definitely adding Persecutory on my radar for the future, looking forward what those Turks will come up with next time.
Persecutory
Godz Ov War Productions
THE GOAT TAVERN 