Review by Adam M on December 26, 2014.

Schammasch perform a type of black metal that has a large focus on the evil aura it gives off. The music of the band is certainly the type that could be given a post tag and also one where that tag would only be partially appropriate. The overwhelming nefarious atmosphere this band creates is not unlike that of Deathspell Omega, but there is a certain flavour of recent Dark Fortress at play here as well. This band is sparser than either of those acts, but manages to create quite an encompassing feeling with their music regardless.

There isn’t too much going on at any one time with the music. It can be seen that Schammasch is a band capable of making moving music without an excessively large amount of instrumentation. Because the outfit is capable of bringing a uniqueness to their performances, they are capable of crafting worthwhile music that will appeal to a smaller segment of the entire metal industry. Guitar riffs shape and shift into various different forms that are always poignant and moving to behold. The vocals are of a similarly twisted nature that is appropriate for the music at hand, but often gets overshadowed by a different instrument. These dark sounds are complemented by a powerful production job that makes everything very clear to the ear.

Even when the music becomes overly subtle, its malevolent nature keeps it moving forward. This can be seen in Split My Tongue for example, where a simple, yet totally nefarious riff carries the song forward in an excellent manner. This song goes onto to build up into an album highlight overall. This is followed nicely the quality Provoking Spiritual Collapse, which largely echoes Celtic Frost material. These are just two of many great moments to be found on this lengthy two-disc piece. Even though a little bit of the fat could have been trimmed, Schammasch have certainly provided an immersive experience with Contradiction.

Rating: 8 out of 10