With thirty years career and numerous excellent records Swiss veterans Samael do not need any superfluous introduction. Samael certainly put wisdom and effort in the creation of the long awaited eleventh album “Hegemony” which is finally within our reach and ready to fulfill high expectations.
The title track confidently prepares a triumphant mood with extensive bold guitar driven grooves surrounded by flamboyant industrial oriented synthesizers which work together to provide a thrilling yet ferocious catchy music core.
The eponymous track “Samael” feels like a rightfully deserved celebration of the band’s music legacy as the atmospheric synths generated textures acquire maximum darkened strength and symphonic emphasis around a steady whirlwind of guitar riffs.
“Angel Of Wrath” is filled with that precious darkness that constantly fuels the multifaceted majestic orchestrations surrounding a clearly groovy thick guitar riffing inevitably amplified by massive fierce growls.
“Black Supremacy” features additional electro/industrial patterns and guitars are more engaged in a faster black metal style riffage to ensure a quite powerful colder blackened groove while gruesome growls relentlessly carry extra aggressive darkness.
“Murder Or Suicide” offers another excellent round of darkly catchy grooves with gothic tinged guitar melodies and the band’s industrial side becomes exquisitely dominant with pleasantly eclectic arrangements and solemn atmospheric layers.
“Land Of The Living” shines for the absolutely addictive malicious chorus featuring the expected beloved ferocious growls but this song also exhibits a rather entertaining macabre mood carefully enhanced by eerie futuristic synthesizers and loads of catchy guitar riffs.
There are many covers of “Helter Skelter” around the world but Samael’s version surprises with an extraordinary diabolical creative interpretation where sharp guitars, ominous growls and haunting arrangements channel darkly energetic vibes.
Following exciting industrialized blackened themes “Hegemony” celebrates the grandiose return of Samael who demonstrates a relevant songwriting and music style that will definitely please the band’s fanbase.