HERMH

Cold Blood Messiah

Mystic Productions/ CD 2009

Some bands don’t care about trends promoted by media and record labels. They stay loyal to their roots and show no interest in incorporating elements of new fashion. They just do what they think is the best for them believing that someday they will gain the profits form the consequence. HERMH is one of the best examples of that kind of metal bands. Since the very beginning of it’s existence, big Bart’s team delivers quality vampiric black metal. However with every release the Clan of Mradu warriors improve their craftsmanship showing the progress in the band’s music.

Of course, the foundations are still the same. Melodic compositions combine metal fury with quasisymphonic licentiousness. They balance between aggression and melancholy. Illustrate the nature of beings dreaming of eternal love and doomed to eternal condemnation. The best example of how good results it may give is the first track "Hairesis" – you should also see grim and blasphemic videoclip. We’ve got here catchy, fast riffs reminding of CRADLE OF FILTH and DIMMU BORGIR. I think that this comparison is rather an honour for the Poles. There are some choir parts which make vocal department more interesting (vide: introduction to the "Eyes of Blind Lamb") and atmospheric keyboard landscapes created by the new musician Marek Papej. By the way it’s not the only new musician in HERMH’s line-up. There’s also a new drummer and secondo guitarist who strengthened the guitar work. Baptism of fire has been charged. There’s nothing to complain in technical skills department. Whole album may be seen as a black metal monolith. However we have some elements that make it more diversed. Just listen to the dark introduction to "I Bring You Fear", the acoustic track "Gnosis" or powerful singing in"Who Can Be Against Us").

Album sound easily meets EU standards. Under the watchful eye of Wieslawcy brothers those guys were able to achieve the enjoyable, quality noise. Cherry on the cake is an extraordinary graphic design of luxury digipack. I guess that it was band’s aim to impress the listener with layout at least as strongly as with the music. However "Cold + Blood + Messiah" is not an epoch-making work, but it may be recomended to all black metal maniacs. HERMH has shown maturity and class, which many would envy. Maybe it’s not the top world class yet. But when I see the determination with which HERMH moves towards artistic excellence, I believe that the best is yet to come.

9/12