Ninth Realm – Damnation’s Veil (Shirt Worthy Dark Fantasy Death Thrash)

 

I’m kind of surprised I apparently never heard of these guys until now, but they keep themselves pretty hidden. That or I suck at finding the good stuff (probably this, actually). Ninth Realm have been around for almost a decade, but the majority of their output has been demos and splits, with some the sickest art I’ve ever seen, let’s add. They only have a single full-length to their name, four years preceding Damnation’s Veil, and untrue to form I decided to go into this one with no knowledge of their sound whatsoever. I’ll start by saying these guys are what I sometimes like to refer to as “shirt worthy.”

   

Metallbum lists them, however, in a different way, as mainly “crossover,” but I don’t think I’ve seen a worse attempt at categorization. The shirt part is critical bros. Ninth Realm scorch a layer of blackness over every moment of this, but it’s not just thrash, nor is it death. We have elements of old school hardcore two-stepping and even some hardcore punk that will burst a mohawk forth from your balding unc head (if that’s you). Thus, though it’s most certainly a harsher metal with very few, but evident, licks of classic heavy, it coughs with the type of attitude that choker riffraff will love. Yet, you’ll find thematically that Damnation’s Veil focuses on dark fantasy with all the swords on fire and knights with black pits in their helmets instead of faces for which one would hope. This essence runs through the entire work, and after cranking out reps to it several times I then went to look at earlier releases for comparison. Ninth Realm have, by this point, reined in their wildness, honing their sound to a fine point while still keep a patina of rust along the edge. So go buy a shirt, you’ll be proud to wear it, or maybe some shorts. The art alone sells that, but once you listen, you won’t forget the name on your chest (or thigh).

 

Ninth Realm Official Instagram

Written by Stanley, Devourer of Souls

Ninth Realm – Damnation’s Veil
Transcending Obscurity
Cover Art: Jerry Hionis (Wyrmwalk)
4.4 / 5