ORDH - Blind In Abyssal Realms CD (Preorder)

ORDH’s debut, “Blind In Abyssal Realms”, sets out to redefine what the term ‘progressive death metal’ truly means. 

ORDH - a name taken from archaic English, meaning the tip of a spear or sword - “Blind In Abyssal Realms” defies proper categorization. It is indeed entrenched in death metal, and Hébert’s deep growls and Brooks’ feral guitar tone make sure it stays there.

While Brooks gladly cites “mostly old-school stuff” as his main influences, such as ENTOMBED, DEMILICH, TIMEGHOUL, or MORBUS CHRON, you can tell right away from the track listing that this first album ain’t your typical blood-and-guts traditional death metal fare. With only five songs ranging from six to over twelve minutes and surprising melodic leanings, it earns its self-professed ‘progressive death metal’ tag - whatever that means, mind you… “You can find the usual tropes -different time signatures, widdly guitars once in a while, that sort of stuff. In some ways, slapping the ‘progressive’ tag on it is mostly useful because it frees us up to do whatever we want. As for the long-structured songs, blame it on my love for IRON MAIDEN’s most epic compositions.”

Sticking to a very organic sound, most of the album was done in-house, with the drums recorded in a “proper studio with lots of old microphones” before everything was refined during the mixing process by Andrew Oswald (PERISHING, MORTIFERUM). The end result is unlike anything you’ve heard: dark and ominous yet beautiful in places, “Blind In Abyssal Realms” takes the listener by the hand right from the opening chord of “Apis Bull”, never letting you go until the final notes of “Hierothesion” fade out forty-three minutes later.

ORDH will leave you in a state of haze and marvel, your eyes gazing into the cosmic void, further complemented by yet another nightmarish vision courtesy of Italian artist Paolo Girardi for the cover.