Review: “Library” by Medusian
Hailing from Gothenburg Sweden, Medusian is a new Symphonic Death Metal project founded on a principle. Every song is an original story built upon a foundation of heavy guitars, fast drums, intricate bass, expressive vocals and massive orchestration to create expressive soundscape where the band’s stories can be told. Comprising bassist Richard Swärd (Art Nation, Ominum, ex-Sonic Assault), drummer Isak Asplund (Enterion, Maelstrom Aeterna, ex-Beyond Sanity) and guitarist and vocalist Mitchell Colbert (ex-Diagoras) the project took shape in 2024, the trio recording seven cuts for seven deadly sins and calling the burnt offering “Library“…
…it almost goes without saying that Symphonic Death Metal with orchestration means that a band has a touch of the cinematic about them and that’s something evident from the very start of this record with the epic introduction piece that is “Wandering Soul“. It feels like you’ve been placed in front of a full orchestra as they perform in grand auditorium and that continues into first track proper “Facestealer“. Rampaging guitars and pulsating drums help create a huge sound, the surprise being just how caustic some of the unclean vocals are as Colbert demonstrates incredible range. It’s as if each phrase, each sentence, moves from clean to unclean as man becomes Gollum like beast. As a trio the band are making the kind of sounds usually associated with a five piece, the Trivium like solo in the final third of this one testament to their sublime musicianship. There is no doubt that their previous experiences in other projects have helped this one greatly but the chemistry between them is also evident almost immediately. Time has clearly been well spent in the rehearsal space nailing these pieces of the puzzle with “Bull of Crete” falling perfectly into place. Menacing and sinister touches add to the dark overture, the orchestrations embellishing rather than overpowering and the vocals nothing short of brutal. There is also a real elegance with some beautiful clean vocals from an unnamed female performer.
The bass takes the pace of the guitar as the lead string instrument to provide a funky flavour to the first half of the aching introspective “Bottom Of The Well” before the guitars take over, to smash the clock in fear. What’s interesting about it is that there isn’t a trace of a self pity or a search for empathy in the vocal performance but instead a wrathful sense of destruction as the emotive quality is strangely absent. By the end its like the protagonist has gone insane, consumed by dark thoughts and laying in wait for the men in white coats to bring a straight jacket. That sense is maintained by the music box introduction to “Toymaker” which sends a chill down the spine before the rest of the instrumentation comes into play. Majestic piano adds a touch of cold to the warmth of the orchestrations, the vicious spoken word moments making it sound like there are multiple voices at work instead of one. A vibrant extended solo is nothing short of incredible, the material that surrounds it utterly captivating and enthralling. “Realm Beyond Sight” offers a moments respite as a second cinematic instrumental piece clearly cut from the start of title track “Library“. As if galloping on horseback through the dark wood of error, running from the grim reaper, the breakneck speed of the tune demonstrates the bands technical abilities as an unstoppable force in Symphonic Death Metal. A whirlwind of percussive battery with riffs flying in all directions are followed by a sublime solo as the savage vocals drive fear into the hearts of the villagers. This is one you’re going to want to listen to again and again because there is so much to it that you simply can’t take it all in on the first listen [9/10]
Track Listing
- Wandering Soul
- Facestealer
- Bull of Crete
- Bottom of the Well
- Toymaker
- Realm Beyond Sight
- Library
“Library” by Medusian is out 17th January 2025