Ways of Descention Review

Band	Ecnephias
Album	Ways of Descention
Type	Album (Studio full-length)
Released	May 28, 2010
Genres	Black Death Doom Metal
Labels	Code666 Records
Length	40:03

Reviewer :  Nerio         Rating :  84 / 100

Ecnephias return after the Ep "Haereticus" with a new album titled "Ways Of Descention" (Descention is a pun) under Code666 Records, a concept metal opus about the story of an italian occultist priest of 1700 who officiated several obscure rites in the ruins of the abbey of St. Hippolytus in Vulture.
The style of this band can be described as a blend of death, black and gothic metal with lots of acoustic parts, impressive choirs and symphonic arrangements that make the atmosphere dark and fascinating.
The singing is divided between growls and clean vocals on several languages including English, Italian and Latin: all these elements help to create the right sinister atmosphere.
This band is a brilliant cross between early Moonspell and Rotting Christ, probably the best extreme Italian band in their field, following the tradition created many years ago by italian occult metal masters Necromass, Opera IX and Mortuary Drape, with greater care and class.
The best songs of the lot are the opener "Secrets of a black priest", a mid air time with a beautiful acoustic part in the final, "Twist of personality", with black metal and dark rock elements, "Beyond Suspicion", great black metal song played with elegance, "A strange painting", dominated by a war chorus, and finally "Il nostro patto", typical song for an horror soundtrack with beautiful vocals and spoken words narrated by the frontman Mancan.
This album is impressive, a metal opera of rare beauty.