Review by Krys on July 3, 2013.

At last. This album was originally scheduled to be released in 2012 and after much pain and suffering it finally saw the daylight in 2013. I was starting to lose my patience after so many visits to band's web site and seeing no updates but they say good things come to those who wait and in this case it can't be more true. 3 years after "Archetype of Chaos" Trauma returns with one of the best records in band's glorious discography. First thing that comes to mind is 'different' - good different. After 7 records with non stop assault "Karma Obscura" delivers marvelous mix of modern groove with old school death metal.

And how does it sound? It sounds like a tank going 100 miles per hour. It's really hard to put a finger on one or two aspects that make this difference. Every time you start to get into mid tempo grooves they switch to blasts and even then guitars seem to do their own thing and continue to play at their own pace creating this uncompromizing music experiance that feels like pounding with very heavy hammer at really fast rate. Those slow tempos are nothing new to Trauma but this time the whole album creates very cohesive and mature effect that builds this overall grandiose atmosphere. Combine this with most complete song structures in band's history and the highest level of musicianship and you get something that will thump your senses for months to come.

At the time of this writing the whole album is available for streaming here, so go ahead and get a taste of one of the best albums of 2013. I'm taking off few decimal points cause now I fell like the true masterpiece is yet to come.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

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

Rating: 9.6 out of 10

Review by JD on April 7, 2012.

I have been sort of bummed out with the stagnant Death Metal that I have been hearing lately. Sure there have been some very heavy releases but there has been little to get excited over. Would Death Metal Blood Red Throne be that one release that will lighten my state of pessimism?

Norway’s Blood Red Throne is a group comprised of members from such illustrious bands as Satyricon and Neongod, who then set out to bring there own style of Death Metal out of the land filled with the stone hearts and darkened souls of Black Metal royalty. BRT have released a very heavy and very no-nonsense album called "Altered Genesis", that seems to go against the norm in their little country.

The album as a whole is a good one although nothing really to talk about either. It seems for all of the talent that BRT has... it has not translated into the music. Sure, it is heavy and very brutal with the right touches of gore and mayhem - but it never stands out or anything, it just exists to exist. The album wants to stand out -you can tell from the first note - but the material written seems to hold it back and just gives you a roughly average album.

I am disappointed at what Blood Red Throne has released. Their album could have been better across the board yet it could have been a whole lot worse as well. Guess there is something good about average - though I cannot for the life of me cant verbalize one right now. This is a good album but it left me wondering if BRT could have done better. I say yes, after thinking about it awhile.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship:7
Atmosphere: 6
Production: 6
Originality: 5.5
Overall: 6

Rating: 6.1 out of 10