Review by Yener on May 25, 2019.

Benighted are one of those bands who I had heard of before, yet due to being obsessed with other bands and albums, never really gave them much of a chance. I remember hearing a song or two a few years ago and just shrugging it off, deciding that whatever I was listening to at the time was better or more suitable for my mood. Thus, Benighted got shelved.

Fast forward a few years and I am now obsessed with this band, kicking myself for not being more attentive earlier. Benighted is special because they don't really fall into any sub-genre. They have elements of death metal, hardcore, progressive and just about anything you can think of - even electronic - and they blend it all together expertly. The first time I sat down and listened to this album from start to finish I was blown away - and it's hard to blow away someone who's been listening to metal for 25 years. 

A few things I love about this band. First off, the vocals. Benighted aren't shy to use a wide variety of vocal styles in their onslaught. From the deep growls, screams and pig squeals, they pretty much have it all. And they are all done incredibly well and tastefully. Second, the drumming. Imagine my surprise when I learned that Kevin Paradis was the drummer on this album. A wonderful surprise, because I have been following him on YouTube for years.

Lastly, and this is very important - the riffs. A lot of bands these days forget that the most important part in metal is having great riffs that you can remember and bang your head to. Thunderous motherfuckers, riffs that can move mountains. And Benighted has that, which is one of the reasons I've been so drawn to them. 

Another aspect is the excellent arranging on this album. The drum parts are fantastic and arranged near perfectly. It's not all blast beats and double bass laid underneath everything, which is just a lazy way of writing drum parts. They are expertly crafted and arranged and compliment the riffs perfectly. 

I don't think I need to go over individual tracks, though I will say that "Experience Your Flesh" is probably my favorite offering on this album. The whole disc is just beast. 

Hard, brutal, fast, experimental, these guys really have it all. They are like the perfect metal band for me, and I will be watching them like a hawk from now on. Can't wait for the new one which should be coming out in a few weeks. This stuff is fantastic.

Rating: 9.5 out of 10

Review by Yener on May 25, 2019.

Benighted are one of those bands who I had heard of before, yet due to being obsessed with other bands and albums, never really gave them much of a chance. I remember hearing a song or two a few years ago and just shrugging it off, deciding that whatever I was listening to at the time was better or more suitable for my mood. Thus, Benighted got shelved.

Fast forward a few years and I am now obsessed with this band, kicking myself for not being more attentive earlier. Benighted is special because they don't really fall into any sub-genre. They have elements of death metal, hardcore, progressive and just about anything you can think of - even electronic - and they blend it all together expertly. The first time I sat down and listened to this album from start to finish I was blown away - and it's hard to blow away someone who's been listening to metal for 25 years. 

A few things I love about this band. First off, the vocals. Benighted aren't shy to use a wide variety of vocal styles in their onslaught. From the deep growls, screams and pig squeals, they pretty much have it all. And they are all done incredibly well and tastefully. Second, the drumming. Imagine my surprise when I learned that Kevin Paradis was the drummer on this album. A wonderful surprise, because I have been following him on YouTube for years.

Lastly, and this is very important - the riffs. A lot of bands these days forget that the most important part in metal is having great riffs that you can remember and bang your head to. Thunderous motherfuckers, riffs that can move mountains. And Benighted has that, which is one of the reasons I've been so drawn to them. 

Another aspect is the excellent arranging on this album. The drum parts are fantastic and arranged near perfectly. It's not all blast beats and double bass laid underneath everything, which is just a lazy way of writing drum parts. They are expertly crafted and arranged and compliment the riffs perfectly. 

I don't think I need to go over individual tracks, though I will say that "Experience Your Flesh" is probably my favorite offering on this album. The whole disc is just beast. 

Hard, brutal, fast, experimental, these guys really have it all. They are like the perfect metal band for me, and I will be watching them like a hawk from now on. Can't wait for the new one which should be coming out in a few weeks. This stuff is fantastic.

Rating: 9.5 out of 10

Review by Yener on May 25, 2019.

Benighted are one of those bands who I had heard of before, yet due to being obsessed with other bands and albums, never really gave them much of a chance. I remember hearing a song or two a few years ago and just shrugging it off, deciding that whatever I was listening to at the time was better or more suitable for my mood. Thus, Benighted got shelved.

Fast forward a few years and I am now obsessed with this band, kicking myself for not being more attentive earlier. Benighted is special because they don't really fall into any sub-genre. They have elements of death metal, hardcore, progressive and just about anything you can think of - even electronic - and they blend it all together expertly. The first time I sat down and listened to this album from start to finish I was blown away - and it's hard to blow away someone who's been listening to metal for 25 years. 

A few things I love about this band. First off, the vocals. Benighted aren't shy to use a wide variety of vocal styles in their onslaught. From the deep growls, screams and pig squeals, they pretty much have it all. And they are all done incredibly well and tastefully. Second, the drumming. Imagine my surprise when I learned that Kevin Paradis was the drummer on this album. A wonderful surprise, because I have been following him on YouTube for years.

Lastly, and this is very important - the riffs. A lot of bands these days forget that the most important part in metal is having great riffs that you can remember and bang your head to. Thunderous motherfuckers, riffs that can move mountains. And Benighted has that, which is one of the reasons I've been so drawn to them. 

Another aspect is the excellent arranging on this album. The drum parts are fantastic and arranged near perfectly. It's not all blast beats and double bass laid underneath everything, which is just a lazy way of writing drum parts. They are expertly crafted and arranged and compliment the riffs perfectly. 

I don't think I need to go over individual tracks, though I will say that "Experience Your Flesh" is probably my favorite offering on this album. The whole disc is just beast. 

Hard, brutal, fast, experimental, these guys really have it all. They are like the perfect metal band for me, and I will be watching them like a hawk from now on. Can't wait for the new one which should be coming out in a few weeks. This stuff is fantastic.

Rating: 9.5 out of 10

Review by Mario on December 18, 2007.

Art, the soul of nature.

Christ Agony, Lux Occulta and now Hermh, bands of such league represent to me fine examples of dark necro[ro]mantic blackened metal art. After putting out tasty, mostly cover songs 'Before Eden' EP, brand new Hermh's full-length album is a follow up release and very strong proof that the band's come back is for real. Some of you may know that the sole remaining persona in Hermh is the running wild beast named Bart. This time he asked guys from another quite good band, Abused Majesty, to help him out with creating new material. His-story here is a development of once begun specific theme concept [look at the cover as a hint].

I wish everyone could see these 5 steppenwolves on stage along with Behemoth, not only because of similar theriomorphic theatrics, but to experience for themselves band's solid craft.

This is not some senseless, merciless thrashing and pulling of strings. Believe me you can be taken away by waves and waves of melodious flow, up and down flow but without any brakes Socaris' guitar well arranged constant move. Adding to this superly rhythmical material are meanderings, screams, howls, growls, spoken words of Bart, conducting maestro who reveals in his poetics secrets of the Clan of Mradu. Even a caveman knows that in symphonic black metal very important are keyboard sounds. Flumen justifies this notion with his right-balanced play which is not a mere fill-up to the whole. I saw Hal helping Dead Infection with live duties. His thick strings handling, not to mention stage presence killz. As for Icanraz, the stickmaster who just recently departed for Christ Agony, let me ask this: do you think Cezar from Christ Agony would take this guy without realizing the potential?

Essential!

Look out for a new release coming in 2008 along with a dvd.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 8
Atmosphere: 9
Originality: 8
Production: 9
Overall: 8

Rating: 8.4 out of 10

Review by Krys on July 20, 2006.

Measuring "Eden's Fire" up to Hermh's previous efforts doesn't make any sense cause there are so many changes, including personal and musical that it almost feels like a new band. Different are vocals, guitars, drums, production... If I had to compare them to other releases of this genre I'd say fans of Emperor and Dimmu Borgir circa "Spiritual Black Dimensions" will find a lot to like on this record. Each song has a complex structure and many layers but at this same time maintains a perfect symbiosis between keyboards and guitars, an element that's often overused in today's symphonic black metal. Obvious touch of melody exists on every track but overall music experience doesn't lose its intensity and aggressiveness. Brutal riffs and varied rhythm section that's not limited to blasts only, offer each track its own identity. Bart's diverse vocal styles and forms of expression give "Eden's Fire" almost a theatrical feel and coupled with Flumen's surrounding keyboards perfectly build the atmosphere of the album. It's been 9 years since their last full-length "Angeldemon" and with "Eden's Fire" Hermh jumps right back into the top of the genre. What a way to come back!

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 9
Atmosphere: 8
Originality: 8
Production: 10
Overall: 8

Rating: 8.6 out of 10