Patria, made up of Triumphsword (vocals) and Mantus (all other instruments), layer ringing chord progressions, melodic aural nuances, and organic environmental noise over hypnotic riffs to create a world of their own with Nihil Est Monastica. Harsh vocals sit perfectly within the mix. On a whole, the record is immersive, quite literally. Infectious, even. Eerily enough, this is its 13th spin on my turntable. It is that good. Songs such as 'Nyctophilia' and 'Sacro Vale dos Encantos' should appease most genre purists. Others, like 'Conquering Death's Palace', take the listener to different places in time/space, and even touch on other genres. That particular track recalls early Coroner, at least to my ears. This is a very good thing. Also included is a great take on a Sarc?fago classic, 'Black Vomit'. Patria make the song their own. It fits seamlessly. -- echoesanddust.com
