Review: Modern Rites – Endless

Introduction

As I am writing this review currently, I sit on my balcony in 7 degrees with rain & stormy weather to fully immerse myself in this record created by Modern Rites. The band itself is an international collaboration and seems to have been creating music since 2020 and one of their members is actually part of our Black Metal Zine / Promotion cult.

Endless

Prelude is exactly what the title implies, a good opening raising expectations for what follows.

The second track, Endless, starts with blasting riffs and fast double bass druming. The athmosphere that Modern Rites creates with this epos of an album is simply breathtaking. The vocals are harsh and it feels like the goal is to guide you into some kind of underworldly realm.

On Lost Lineage gives us the first glimpses of their post black metal athmosphere, if I have to describe it in my own words. Heavy & sonic space-occupying guitar work with great vocals that could be a bit influences by bands like Harakiri for the Sky and UADA. Halfway through the song a sudden break occurs with a reverb loaden bass solo, which pushes the melancholic heaviness even further.

Veil of Opulence is simply put harsh melodic black metal without compromises. The guitars sometimes push the vocals more into the background, but in a way that it indeed sounds like that was the plan all along as it simply forces the listener to immerse themselves into the music to gain a complete understanding on what the creators want the listener to experience.

The 5th Track, Becoming is a more industrial sounding heavy hitter. Starting with a synth intro that merges into breakdown riffs that pound into you like an impact drill. Definitely a change in regards to the previous tracks but a pleasent one for sure.

The last track Philosophenweg is the track that I gravitated towards the hardest due to the german title roughly translates to “the way of the philosopher.” Oh boy did it live up to my expectations. A very fitting closer that leaves you excited to what this band could bring in the future.

Conclusion

A very well written record for sure and it will be definitely be played quite a lot more in my apartment. My personal score for it is 8.5 and I will reccomend you all to give it a chance.

BMZ Score: 8,5 / 10

If you want to support the band and check out the album for your self you can do it here:

https://modernrites.bandcamp.com/album/endless

And the label can be found here:

Debemur Morti Productions

What do you think of Modern Rites?

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