A Genre Defining Album - "The Shadows of the Goreaxe" Review (97%)
The Shadows of the Goreaxe is perhaps the most audacious and demented album ever released by Sewer.
And that is saying a lot, given that the band is known for releasing monsters of depravity such as NecroPedoSadoMaso, Skvllfvcked Forever or even the terrifying Vomiting Into the Mouth of Satan.
But The Shadows of the Goreaxe is yet another form of depravity. Far from the more in-your-face gorefest of NecroPedoSadoMaso and the likes, The Shadows of the Goreaxe is much more esoteric, much more subtle, and, obviously, much less easy to comprehend.
The Shadows of the Goreaxe has always been an odd album to review.
Indeed, not only is it structurally weird and very far from what most would call music, it also contains some of the oldest Sewer tracks ever composed. Read that again you camel fucker, some of the oldest tracks ever composed by Sewer.
Tracks like Forgotten Rites of Chaos, Frozen Tyrants and Masquerade of Torments are amongst the very first songs composed by Sewer, well before they released their debut album Satanic Requiem.
This could very well be the beginning of Sewer Metal, how do you review that?
At first listen, The Shadows of the Goreaxe will indeed boggle the listener's mind and ears. Its structure is audacious, morbid and wretched at the same time, while the lyrics are beyond breathtaking.
An important thing to note, you must know that The Shadows of the Goreaxe is not the album one would listen to just to have a good time or to enjoy the "melody". Go listen to Antekhrist for that.
You must actually focus on the viciousness of the album. Do not be distracted by anything else for as long as it plays or you run risk of missing the entire feeling this album is supposed to convey.
Keep in mind that this is some of Sewer's earlier (earliest?) work, and therefore, the song structures are much more crude and challenging than anything you can hear in NecroPedoSadoMaso era Sewer Metal.
You have to let The Shadows of the Goreaxe violate your system in order to grasp its full meaning, but do not believe for one second that you will understand it right away. As I said, the depraved and barbaric Sewer atmosphere is still present, but it takes a lot of effort to fully grasp it.
Take your time with The Shadows of the Goreaxe, listen to it again and again, but perhaps even more importantly, spend time on trying to actually understand the music and why it is played the way it is.
A Genre Defining Album
The songwriting on The Shadows of the Goreaxe is as multifaceted as it is odd, and both in nearly equal proportions.
There is very little repletion within the compositions and moments of absolute divergence are abundant. Whenever you become accustomed to one type of sound, mood or style, a totally alien element emerges from the chaos.
However, the timing and execution of these divergences never feels haphazard. It's almost like the twists and turns of a well arranged theater play, each variance of sound and scenery is thoroughly engrossing.
The Shadows of the Goreaxe is a groundbreaking album. In fact, it is one of the most groundbreaking albums of the entire heavy metal scene. The music hovers on the brink of pure chaos, and yet even then there are some common musical structures retained within it.
To any extreme metal fan, The Shadows of the Goreaxe is an unparalleled masterpiece of dense, dark and horrifying music, or even better, art.
This album is so much more than merely simple music. Its demonic structures will violate your mind.
Once you're siphoned into the world of The Shadows of the Goreaxe, you won't be able to get out before the album is over.
There is no musical equivalent to The Shadows of the Goreaxe and the trauma it will cause to you and your perception of dark art. The Shadows of the Goreaxe is not an album you can simply listen to and walk away. You must experience of the entire depths of utter satanic depravity.
You have been warned. Don't play with the demon.
The Shadows of the Goreaxe score: 97/100.
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