Review by Faithless on December 22, 2021.

From the deep and dark catacombs of the Greek underground death metal scene, the young band Blessed By Perversion emerges to blow my mind like no other band had in quite some time. This is their follow-up album called Remnants Of Existence which is kind of short; only 24 minutes and 33 seconds. Nevertheless, it felt like it was quite a journey into the catacombs of inhuman existence and original death metal.

'Descending To The Catacombs' starts the record as an acoustic, mysterious, and occult intro that sets the mood for what’s to come. I felt like I was descending deep into caverns, tombs, and underground galleries full of rotten bodies and remnants of ancient civilizations now extinct. Once you are into the mood, the bands hit you in the face with 'Gallery Of Bones'. This track is full of tempo changes and interesting dynamics that will be the staple through the whole record. Zig-zagging guitar patterns and a monumental atmosphere almost solemn at times. I think that’s the Hellenic touch the band imprints into their death metal and it certainly works for good, makes their music feel original and fresh (believe me, that’s something difficult to find, especially in the death metal scene).

I consider that even though these musicians are pretty young, they're highly talented and skilled. The vocalization of the singer is outstanding and it does not fall into gurgling or grunting, it’s guttural and brutal but understandable. Guitars are sharp as blades that cut deep into your flesh as you are begging for more. The drum work is consistent and flawless throughout the whole record. The drummer plays in favor of the band’s songwriting and production, not against it. His skills are technical; however, he does not want to show off and overshadow the rest of the instruments. The bass is audible, and I appreciate that fact. For instance, in the song 'Atonement Refused', (which by the way is my favorite song) the bass makes the production beefier and more ominous. I wanted more; I was craving for more after each tune! The record execrates death in a very refined and intelligent way, there is no need to exaggerate with gory lyrics. Each song is a little treasure to discover and every time I listen to Remnants Of Existence I am more convinced of that idea. For example, songs like 'Among The Tombs Of Ancient Gods' and 'Caverns Of Torture' have many catchy riffs, killer drum patterns, and brutal lyrics that enrich the overall experience. The album is full of killer songs, there are no fillers or fat in this follow-up record. After a while into the catacombs of inhuman existence you just emerge at the end of the record to the surface of the earth only to face a mass extinction event with the track 'Within Monumental Chaos'. The record closes with an epic, mid-tempo, and monumental song that evokes apocalyptic landscapes of mass human eradication. As I mentioned before the album blew my mind for its simplistic yet effective and catchy atmosphere. It is not pretentious or over-produced. The production lets the music breathe and the songs take their time to develop the lead motive, ideas are completed masterfully in each of the tracks. The band also draws influences from old-school death metal acts like Morbid Angel and Nile, however, keeping their own distinct and unique identity intact, they worship and respect but do not copycat.

All in all, the follow-up of Blessed By Perversion Remnants Of Existence kept me entertained and blew my mind big time. I don’t want to exaggerate but with more production, these guys will become the next Nile! The music takes its time to breathe and develop in each song and the whole record feels organic and original. If I had listened to this record last year it would have entered my top five favorite albums of 2020. Blessed By Perversion is destined to kick serious ass in the next years, I think we will continue hearing from these guys and the third album will be even more brutal than this one. Highly recommended.

Rating: 8.9 out of 10

Review by Michael on February 27, 2021.

When I read the name of the Greek band Blessed By Perversion for the first time, I thought "hm, the name chosen is not so great". But I nevertheless listened to their second work Remnants Of Existence and I must say that despite the somewhat, let's say, provocative name I am positively surprised by the music.

The cover is worthy of a death metal CD, it is held in dark colors, very gloomy and apocalyptic, so the visual impression is already successful. But how is it musically? Blessed By Perversion play quite technical death metal, which is located in the mid-tempo range. When I say technical death metal, by the way, I don't mean the technical fiddling from the drawing board that some bands play, but as a reference Monstrosity came directly to my mind at the first listening, whose last album is stylistically quite similar. From the song structures as well as the vocals, which are quite deep and in places are underlaid with distorted growls. However, the band does not simply copy, but underlay their songs with quite vicious keyboard sounds, which makes the tracks quite varied and interesting. If you listen to the album more often, other influences like (due to the keyboards) Nocturnus A.D., Suffocation, Atheist or even the more technical Death albums (especially "Human") come to mind. These influences are quite clearly recognizable in songs like 'Caverns of Torture' (listen to the riff and compare it with "Souls to Deny") or also 'Within Moments' (the keyboard and the bass could also have been used so or so similar in "Human"). However, there are no songs on the album that really stand out, the compositions are all on a pretty good level. The production is as a death metal production should sound , the instruments are all produced balanced and the voice is aggressive and powerful.

Blessed By Perversion have written a very original and entertaining album, which does not copy from their influences, but skillfully combines their features into an independent work. If there are points of criticism of the album, then the playing time, which with less than half an hour in my eyes (and ears) is much too short. Perhaps a cover would have made a nice bonus candy.

Rating: 8.4 out of 10

Review by John B. on February 27, 2021.

Leave it to the Greeks to find what death metal is often missing! Blessed by Perversion play the genre at its catchiest, without veering into “melodic” territory; and its most atmospheric without ever sacrificing an ounce of heaviness. If that sounds like a long way of saying “please more keyboards in my death metal!” well yes that’s part of it. But the traditional metal instruments, as well as vocals and lyrics, do a great job of forging the atmosphere too.

Andreas’ vocals are very deep, reminding me of Paul Kuhr from Novembers Doom in his ability to sound at home with slower passages as well the conventional death metal pace. His tone is mostly comprehensible, which is good because the lyrics are worth it. Take this example from 'Gallery of Bones':

'Wooden crosses everywhere
A graveyard under the view
Of their eternal monument
A barren landscape covered with dead soil'

Great stuff! I’ll take that bleak nihilism over aggressive anti-religion any day.

Instrumentally, it’s the last two songs on Remnants of Existence that best encapsulate Blessed by Perversion’s two styles. First, there’s the pummeling ferocity of 'Caverns of Torture'. Kostas and Manolis on the guitars treat us to a duel between choppy bursts of tremolo, and juddering crunches that are so heavy, they’re almost percussive. At their best, Kataklysm did that, so did Dutch greats Severe Torture. Blessed by Perversion keeps right up with those guys. Then we’re back to the haunting atmospheric side with album closer 'Within Monumental Chaos'. Song absolutely merits its title! I love how the keyboard picks up the creepy clean guitar intro, before giving way to a lumbering march of electric guitar. When done right, slow death metal can be heavier than the faster stuff; and 'Within Monumental Chaos' accomplishes that on a level at least equal to Morbid Angel’s "Blessed Are the Sick".

You want fierce high energy death metal? You want a horrifying ride down the dead corners of the human spirit? It’s all here. I’m looking forward to more Blessed by Perversion albums - also, to longer albums, please!

Rating: 9 out of 10