By David Stewart
Five-piece brutal black metal band Hak-Ed Damm was founded in Quebec, Canada, back in 2007 and have seen some success on the Black Metal scene over the years. After five years together they decided to go their own ways, citing inner conflicts and changes in points of view from two of its members. The split didn’t last long though. Two years later, three from the original line-up got back together and added two new members to their ranks to once again get back in the game. After several releases, including one full length album, 2017’s ‘Holocaust Over Dresden’, the band decided to take a break. With the band currently on hiatus, Hak-Ed Damm guitarist Exu and drummer Silencer, along with Lord Molag-Venn from Nalzer, decided to form a side project. The name of the project, Sombre Héritage, and the name of the album, ‘Alpha Ursae Minoris’.
The album is six tracks deep and has a running time of 37 minutes and is an emotional whirlwind of a black metal album. The album ranges from dark, moody, brooding to musically intense and somewhat majestic. Filled with powerful, blasting drumming, potent riffs, guttural vocals and at times accompanied by choral vocals, the album takes you on an atmospheric journey, though a pleasant Summers day road trip this is not.
This album has pretty much everything a black metal fan could ask for. It is powerful, raw and melodic with riffs that are ever changing, taking you in different directions. The construction of the album is a good mix of slow to faster paced sections with melodic elements throughout and the production is raw with no over the top shine and polish, which just adds to the overall experience contained within the album.
All in all, a damn solid effort for this side project and would be money well spent for any fan of the genre.
- ‘Alpha Ursae Minoris’ is out now. You can get your copy HERE.
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