Gorement – The Ending Quest

The album "The Ending Quest" is like a time machine that takes us back to the early 90s, when many bands were truly talented and unique, and the albums carried inspiration and freshness of views. Perhaps due to various circumstances, the band could not stand the competition during the years of its activity, but in the event horizon we see that Gorement were able to record a very original album, which later became a real cult, in demand now more than ever before. The material is catchy, dark and melancholic, but with a strong Death Metal core, they sound really brutal.

The Osmose reissue almost completely repeats the reissue from Century Media, with the only exception that the edition is now made as gatefold (It is also worth noting that Transcending Records and Osmose have printed so many new records that there is definitely no shortage on both continents.). Vinyl mastering is the same, as far as official sources can tell, Patrick W. Engel did special mastering specifically for the reissue on Century, the final version turned out to be decent: the sound turned out to be "with muscular relief", strong bass, deep guitars and crushing vocals. It's hard to say whether it was possible to get the better result with not the highest quality source. But now the sound makes a pleasant impression.

But there is also a fly in the ointment: this ultra limited edition gold vinyl is damn noisy. There are noises in quiet places in tracks, and when switching between them. Perhaps I didn't get the best copy, but the noisy vinyl mass is in fact. And this is what prevents from giving a particular edition the highest ball, despite the masterpiece music as such. Hope this is an isolated case.

Finally an awesome gold pressing for one of the most supreme death metal albums of all time! Osmose Productions has used my preferred matte gold to the more shiny gold employed sometimes. All hail the fantastic Gorement! Very pleased to see that I will finally have an option outside the awful blue tones I’ve been waiting to see retired.

Now, for my typical review! This is the first Death Metal LP I’ve been excited to purchase, and with great reason. The guitar tones here are almost blackened, and the vocals deep and gruff without being offensive or inhuman, really solid talented effort. Very triumphant, melodic sound while still remaining more brutal than most anything around. In of creativity and sound, unrivaled. The album is a masterpiece truly, and one of my top 3 Death Metal albums, behind only Death’s “Scream Bloody Gore”, and Autopsy’s “Mental Funeral”. The piece remained in great obscurity for many years, and while I’m not sure how it came to light, I’m very glad that it has hit the mainstream so that it can get the star treatment it deserves. Shredding, rapidly piercing guitars that suddenly shift back to heavy powerful riffs and deep, earthy vocals echoing powerful battles in ancient crypts of times long past reverberate throughout, pounding drums announcing the return of the valiant champion, heralded as a hero: the slayer of the old breed of vampire.

Despite the band name strays far less towards the gory, and more towards the Nordic artistry of Bathory and Amorphous, while remaining solidly solely within the Death Metal genre, not moving too far out of typical mid-tempo range. Honestly it’s just a miraculous collection of well-thought out and written death metal tracks, ambitious in every way despite them never having blown up the way they should have. I think this is in part due to the large death of the Swedish death metal scene by ‘94, and growing movement of sound into the second-wave Black Metal scene. Into shadows is essentially a death metal’d up Black Metal album outro with slow riffs, and it’s a perfect closer to an incredible gem. This album does have some extant and clearly noticeable influence from this trend, and it gives the piece a unique touch. Amazing stuff, can’t wait for the LP to arrive.

10/10

Favorite Track: Into Shadows

🌲🗿🛡

The pale yellow poor excuse for a "gold" strikes again. When will labels stop pressing this low-end option and stick with the golds... most have, but for Osmose and Floga? Probably never...