Whom Gods Destroy – Insanium
Whom Gods Destroy – Insanium
Inside Out Music
Release Date: 15/03/24
Running Time: 52:56
Review by Oli Gonzalez
8/10
New kids on the block, Whom Gods Destroy, were formed some time during the global shutdown, when musicians trapped in their homes were desperate for a release of their creative juices. Today, we have their debut album “Insanium” to peruse. Promising a cocktail of Progressive Heavy Rock with keys and soaring lead guitars, this is one I couldn’t wait to get my hands on.
The album opens with ‘In The Name Of War’. Well, try to listen to this and tell me that the opening piano segment is anything but thoroughly addictive! Seriously, too much exposure to this and it’ll penetrate your subconscious and get stuck into your mind’s ear for days. Just like it did for me. This, and the fact that Dino is simply a vocal powerhouse, and the crown jewel so far for the band. ‘Over Again’ features much heavier groovier passages that will either get you headbanging or dad dancing round your living room! Whichever way, it’ll leave an impression on you no doubt. The album takes a different direction for ‘The Decision’. A much more melodic, stripped back and somewhat minimalist approach to the composition. It works though, and keeps you the listener guessing without throwing you down an utterly random rabbit hole. Well, whilst I did say minimalist, that guitar solo is anything but! Honestly, those blazing lead riffs and soaring tones will have the most seasoned of guitarists purring and salivating at the technical prowess on display!
Dino seems to take more of a break and let the rest of the band do the talking in ‘Crawl’. It’s in this song where keyboardist Derek gets more of a chance to shine, unleashing splendid keyboard riffs one after the other, reminiscent of the Prog Rock masters Genesis and Marillion, from back in the day. The theme of stripped back and more minimalist tracks continues in ‘Find My Way Back’ , this time offering more of an acoustic ballad feel in the early segments. Whom Gods Destroy have already proved that they’re sublime musicians collectively and individually, so it’s good to see that they can prioritise emotionally content and feel rather than needlessly technical spiels, and thus compositional versatility. Additionally, I challenge you to listen to the closing moments and to not sing along to the intoxicating and instantly memorable vocal lines on offer here!
Did anybody order an Industrial Metal style track in the style of Fear Factory? Even if you didn’t, you’re getting one anyway in the form of ‘Crucifier’. Easily the heaviest track on the album so far, it overloads your senses with crushing groove after crushing groove that demands to be played on full volume! Yet there’s still that melodic undertone and element in there to still keep this somewhat radio friendly and accessible. Proving that you can be heavy without mindless guttural vocals or tuning down 2 full octaves on the strings!
So we’re over two thirds of the way through this journey now. And what a journey it’s been so far. I’ll admit, by time I got to ‘Keeper Of The Gate’, a bit of listener fatigue started to kick in. The song in itself is fine, with another groove fest coupled with sublime lead guitar work. Though it feels a bit too similar to the rest. That’s until ‘Hypernova 158’ smashes its way into your ears with the most ambitious and unorthodox of compositions! Where to begin unpacking this juggernaut? An entirely instrumental affair, it’s almost as if they decided to write the most wacky and outlandishly experimental passage they could. It seems mad scientist at times, though somehow coherent. Then there’s a sudden ending! I wanted more of that! Just when I thought I had the band figured out, they throw a curveball like that. Bravo though!
The opening to title track ‘Insanium’ feels like a throwback to the late 90s Nu Metal scene, especially with the liberal use of guitar harmonics, as well as the thunderous rhythm section. I wasn’t quite expecting that calm ambient passage in the middle but that sure is as aesthetically pleasing as it is a compositional masterstroke, juxtaposing nicely with the heaviness we’ve just witnessed. That ambient theme continues in the album’s final track ‘Requiem’, with a scorching lead guitar solo towards the end – one that should definitely find its way onto a list of 100 Greatest Solos!
Then, that’s it. It’s all over. A solid album overall, only really getting knocked down just for being slightly too long and causing a bit of listener burn out.
So, if you’re a fan of Heavy Progressive Rock and want something that will keep you challenged and guessing, “Insanium” may well be for you.
TRACKLISTING:
01. In the Name Of War
02. Over Again
03. The Decision
04. Crawl
05. Find My Way Back
06. Crucifier
07. Keeper of the Gate
08. Hypernova 158
09. Insanium
10. Requiem
LINE-UP:
Bruno Valverde – Drums
Yas Nomura – Bass
Dino Jelusick – Vocals
Derek Sherinian – Keyboards
Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal – Guitars
LINKS:
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