Immolation - Kingdom of Conspiracy (2013)

Alright, here we have it... 'Kingdom of Conspiracy'. Ever since 'Harnessing Ruin', it's almost as if the band has been on auto-pilot. Now don't get me wrong, Immolation have without a doubt released some winners during this period such as 'Majesty and Decay' as well as the 'Providence' ep, but since 'Harnessing...' Immolation has opted to ease up on the more technical aspects of their former sound and have adapted a more straightforward approach to songwriting. Fine by me, because at the end of the day it all boils down to whether or not the songs sound good, and do they? The answer is yes. Without a doubt this ranks among the bands more formidable material and is certainly finer than the duo of duds that were 'Harnessing Ruin' and 'Shadows in the Light'. The dismal and oppressive atmosphere is still there as are the quirky riffs that only Immolation can produce. I've read complaints about the drummer, and while his style is certainly not as kooky and bizarre as Smilowski or Hernandez, his technique is perfectly appropriate for what the band is currently dishing out.

Stylistically KOC is the natural continuation of the band's two previous releases. There's no big change in sound or direction. The only real flaw here is that some of the songs lack a standout identity and tend to bleed into one another. Five songs in and you're still thinking you're on the first or second track. Not a big deal and usually the more you familiarize yourself with an album that sort of thing tends to iron itself out. I mean fuck, this album was just released today! Give it some time.

Again, this is a solid Immolation album that will sit quite comfortably alongside the rest of their catalog (although I gotta say, that cover is fucking terrible) and unless you're an abnormally anal fuck, KOC should satisfy your hunger until the next album comes rolling down the hill a couple of years from now.