Progeny of Sun – Throne of Desolation Album Review
A Polished Piece of Blackened Death Metal Perfection from Finnish scene newcomers Progeny of Sun 9/10
To say there’s been much anticipation and intrigue behind the debut album of Finnish blackened death metal act Progeny of Sun would be an understatement.
Formed in 2017 by the core duo of Niko Aromaa and Jaakko Hautamäki, the band has released a multitude of singles and EPs since their inception, recruiting three new members to flesh out the ensemble along the way as well Upcoming debut album Throne of Desolation on Inverse Records marks their first full-length release and represents some of their best work to date.
Progeny of Sun wastes no time launching into a heavy-hitting album introduction in the form of “Forged by the Devil,” which spans a conservative minute-and-a-half in runtime. It turns out to be plenty of time for the band to bring the fury and showcase many of the tricks that will be later featured on many of the coming tracks, namely Aromaa’s incredible vocal chops. From high fry screams to low growls, Aromaa delivers in a way that perfectly supplements the massive sound the band brings to the table.
From there, Throne of Desolation marches straight into the album’s lead single “Damsel.” This was a great pick to introduce us to the album because it features a little bit of everything and, most importantly, the song certifiably kicks ass. Expect powerful vocals, melodic guitar leads, chugging rhythms, blast beats, and could we even call it “blackened” death metal if there weren’t some symphonic elements added?
“Damsel” does much more than demonstrate Progeny of Sun’s heaviness; it also shows their musical diversity too. About halfway through the song, the band fades out, a quiet piano becoming the only sound, leading into a mesmerizing breakdown that should make the deathcore kids in the crowd salivate. Aromaa steals the show, switching gears from his standard screaming and instead singing a clean, baritone section to convey gravitas.
The build-up on “Damsel” is a clear victory, but it’s far from the only instance of this trick. Throne of Desolation frequently breaks the chaos with soft interludes, offering momentary reprieve before the band bludgeons you with another brutal section to close out the tune. The latter half of the album, roughly from “Dweller” onward, incorporates this musical rise and fall that makes the album a fascinating listen.
I’m tempted to call “Damsel” my favorite track, but “Dweller” and “Coward” are equally captivating. Whereas “Dweller” offers more midtempo melodies, melancholic clean guitars, and symphonic elements against a conventional death metal backdrop, tunes like “Coward” and “Caldera” come in and take no prisoners. Progeny of Sun’s proclivity to take risks helps reel you in and hold you there. Track to track from start to finish, there’s no lull and, where many albums lose their legs by the latter half, Progeny of Sun arguably saves the best for last.
The closing track, “War of the Ages,” is no exception to that. It’s a doozy, with every other track clocking in at under five minutes and the closer more than doubling that, but the pacing is great. “War of Ages” weaves ominous riffs, growls, and screams with synths, clean guitars, more clean singing, and a build-up in the middle that leads the listener right into the triumphant finish.
It’s been a long road for Progeny of Sun, but their upcoming debut full-length Throne of Desolation marks a massive victory for the Finnish quintet. For a near perfect entry in an ever-evolving genre, we’re awarding a 9/10, and we’ll definitely be stoked to see what these dudes do next!
Overal Score: 9/10
Review by: Chris Covello
