Dark Celebration - Phlegeton: The Transcendence of Demon Lords

Clocking at a short 29 minutes, this second full-length work from Brazilians Dark Celebration exudes that obscure and vintage death-metal vibe so typical in third-world countries. If the recent works of Abhorrence, Rebaelliun and Ophiolatry aren’t completely alien to your ears, then you know the drill: bloodcurdling death-metal barbarity with minimal, but effective production values and satanic hocus-pocus expressed in the lyrics. It’s not pretty, it’s not nice and god bless them (sorry folks!) for that, but also it doesn’t add nothing new to a style of music so doggedly abused over the years and save for in Latin American nations so obviously passé. But then again, there’s not too much room for improvement in this line of work in playing old-school death-metal is there? Otherwise it wouldn’t be old-school.
Throughout seven tracks, it should be mentioned that this Brazilian four-piece don’t limit themselves to blasting old-flavoured death-metal as there is a substantial dose of German-thrash-infused riffs creeping in as well, which unfortunately sound awkward and pedestrian for most of the time. Sure enough, Dark Celebration are a lot more palatable when they’re spitting out riffs that are more reminiscent of Morbid Angel and Krisiun than Sodom or Kreator.
Ultimately, there’s potential in Dark Celebration vintage death-metal sound, but nothing which clearly suggests the band can rival with a more skilful Krisiun or Vital Remains. (5.5/10)

Band info: www.myspace.com/darkcelebration666
Label info: www.paragonrecords.org