Fell Omen- Invaded By A Dark Spirit
Fell Omen- Invaded By A Dark Spirit
True Cult Records
Release Date: 14/02/2024
Review by Rory Bentley
8/10
We’re only in February, and I have reviewed a significant quota of what I will affectionately call ‘silly bollocks’ already. I don’t know if the Metal Gods have intentionally conspired to bring some levity to a time of year that really fucking sucks, but the serendipity of the likes of a new Night Flight Orchestra and Avantasia album arriving at the wankest period for weather and brokeness here on this rainy isle of twats I call home is much appreciated. Because camp silliness, performed to a high musical standard by people that understand the main objective is to write great songs that make you happy is something I always have time for. Also, it’s a large part of why I despise ‘comedy’ bands like the one I refuse to name who are still depressingly popular despite being bigoted hack morons because the world is terrible, and we don’t deserve nice things.
Enter Fell Omen with 22 glorious minutes of Black Metal ‘Dungeon Punk’ nonsense. If you want something that channels Darkthrone at their most arch and Midnight at their most lo-fi with some crusty Dungeon Synth elements chucked in (and why the fuck wouldn’t you?!) this one man killing machine has got you covered.
As the casio-quality synths of the superbly titled ‘Don’t Go Hollow, You Have Steel’ fade out and are replaced by guitars that sound like angry bees trapped in a moog, you’ll know if this is going to be for you. In the best possible way the whole thing sounds like it was recorded on a potato. Like someone grabbed the master tape for the first Bathory album and dashed it in the tumble dryer. In my opinion this is a truly great thing, but your mileage may vary.
What gives “Invaded By A Dark Spirit” a miniscule chance of crossing over to a wider audience, at least a little bit, is some really tight, catchy songwriting. The Black n Roll crossed with Medieval Folk melodies and guitar lines on ‘Dungeon Metal Punks Invading Digital Castles’ (what a title!) are so strong that that no amount of locusts-fighting-in-a-biscuit-tin production can stop the hooks from burrowing deep into your noggin. Heck, ‘Upon the Cliff, In Castle Stormveil’ is the sonic equivalent of prime Candlemass being played on kazoos but those riffs are good enough to cut through the murk.
With some solid screechy vocals and straight up Punk drumming, the record moves at a frantic, chaotic pace that only lets up occasionally to drop in some spooky minstrel bullshit like the intro to the title track, which sails dangerously close to humppa before going mental all over again. As such a brisk runtime is necessary, which is exactly what we get. Not only does the album not overstay its welcome, but I find myself going in for repeat listens even when I should be moving onto other reviews.
“Invaded By A Dark Spirit” is an absolute blast, and anyone that digs Devil Master or Poison Ruin is sure to find another record of the giddy, joyful evil to rock along to. We need some levity in these winter months and Fell Omen have provided that in spades!
‘Dungeon Metal Punks Besieging Digital Castles’ Official Video
TRACKLISTING:
01. Don’t Go Hollow, You Have Steel
02. Dungeon Metal Punks Besieging Digital Castles
03. Upon The Cliff, In Castle Stormveil
04. Warrior Jar
05. Forlorn Knights and Strange Flasks
06. Invaded By A Dark Spirit
07. In The Poison Swamp
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