Get Your Music on Amazon!
Get Your Music - and everything else - on Amazon! All purchases made on Amazon through this link earn a commission for Jesusfreakhideout.com!

JFH Music Review


Impending Doom, Death Will Reign
CLICK COVER TO ENLARGE

Impending Doom
Death Will Reign



Artist Info: Discography
Genre(s): Metal / Deathcore / "Gorship"
Album length: 11 tracks: 45 minutes, 35 seconds
Street Date: November 5, 2013


Take one listen to the furious opener "Ravenous Disease" or really, any track on Death Will Reign, the fifth album from Impending Doom, and it's almost impossible to tell that this is a fiercely Christ-centered band. Even the title of the album suggests otherwise. However, their ferocious brand of deathcore, described by themselves as "gorship," has found a rather large legion of followers since their conception in 2005, nicknamed the Doom Nation by the band, and rightly so; Impending Doom are one of the best bands doing this style of metal in the scene right now. The fact that they're a Christian band makes them somewhat of an anomaly.

Not since their Facedown Records debut, Nailed. Dead. Risen., has Impending Doom sounded this focused or ferocious. Maybe that has something to do with the return of guitarist Manny Contreras, who performed on Nailed. Dead. Risen. (as well as their sophomore effort, The Serpent Servant); the addition of guitarist Eric Correa, who once played in the little-known but crushing deathcore outfit Oblige; or the fact that vocalist Brook Reeves gives the vocal performance of his career thus far. Whatever it is, it makes Death Will Reign all the more compelling. The band has seamlessly meshed the brutality of their debut with the exceptional songwriting of their last album, Baptized In Filth, and made an album that exemplifies just how much they've grown in their eight-year career as a band.

One of the more obvious points of growth is the varied dynamics Impending Doom have introduced into their death metal assault. Perhaps it was hinted at on Baptized In Filth in "My Light Unseen," which showed off a softer, more melodic side of the band, but it is even more apparent here in tracks such as "Beyond The Grave," which retains an echoing, atmospheric quality throughout. This is but one example. However, there is improvement shown across the board on Death Will Reign. The grooves are deeper, the breakdowns heavier, and the ambience darker.

The lyrics are also somewhat more personal. You get the sense that Brook Reeves is attempting to purge the world of its demons through his guttural growls, all while conveying a convicting message of redemption through Christ. While most of the songs on Death Will Reign deal with these themes, Reeves devotes one song to his wife and son. "My Blood" is perhaps the highlight of Death Will Reign and might even be the best deathcore jam of the year, if not the past few years. The breakdowns are absolutely earth-shattering, and further prove that even the heaviest of music can be worshipful and full of love.

There's no getting around the fact that Impending Doom make ugly music-- music that is meant to stir up some of the darkest emotions a person can have. However, the difference between what Impending Doom are doing when compared to other secular bands playing the same style of music is the underlying message of positivity and spirituality woven into their brutality. They encourage people to face the darkness in this world and stand up to it by wielding the power of Christ. That, and the fact that Impending Doom are immensely better songwriters than almost all of their contemporaries. Five albums into their career, Impending Doom have nearly perfected their formula, and Death Will Reign is the culmination of everything Impending Doom have been striving for.

- Review date: 11/4/13, written by Aaron Lambert of Jesusfreakhideout.com



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 13!

 

. Record Label: Entertainment One
. Album length: 11 tracks: 45 minutes, 35 seconds
. Street Date: November 5, 2013
. Buy It: iTunes
. Buy It: Amazon.com

  1. Ravenous Disease (4:13)
  2. Death Will Reign (4:11)
  3. Beyond the Grave (4:45)
  4. My Own Maker (3:04)
  5. Doomsday (3:01)
  6. Rip, Tear, and Burn (3:01)
  7. Hellhole (3:51)
  8. My Blood (4:44)
  9. Endless (3:36)
  10. Live Or Die (3:05)
  11. The Great Divine (8:08)

 

Leave a Comment

 

 

go to main Album review page
go to Album review archive

 

 

                 
Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 13!

Search JFH



This Friday, July 25, 2025
ALBUMS
Anchor & Braille New Mexico [Equal Vision]
B. Tee Told You [Syntax]
Bride Scarecrow Messiah CD Re-Release [Girder]
Empowered SALT - EP (independent)
Homesick Prodigals Different Good (independent)
KDNS After Eden [Syntax]
Olivia Lane Songs About Jesus (Deluxe Edition) [BEC]
Tasha Cobbs Leonard TASHA [Motown Gospel]
Kevi Morse Kingston We Winning [Syntax]
Pulpit Vomit Hospital Lens [Rottweiler]
Anthony & Tiffany Salerno Dance for Jesus - EP (independent)
Taylor & Co Worship Breakthrough - EP (independent)
Josh Wright LEAD (independent)

SINGLES
abenezer i was lost - Single [Gotee]
Joe L Barnes Good Shepherd (Studio Version) - Single [Provident]
Sho Baraka Still Got Faith (ft. L3xdivine) - Single [Syntax]
Gracie Binion Easy To Please - Single [BEC]
Katty Camargo Shine Upon Me - Single (independent)
The CCC Collective Thankful - Single (independent)
C4 Crotona Mr. Gritty - Single [Syntax]
CXMMXNS Trust and Obey (feat. CAIN) - Single [Provident]
EJ Swavv & Nickwit2Ks Growth - Single [Syntax]
Forrest Frank GOD'S GOT MY BACK - Single [River House / 10K]
Andrew Gonoude Closer To You - Single (independent)
Noah Paul Harrison Oh Lord My God (Live) - Single [Bethel]
J.Solo All I Have (ft. Kaboose & MotionPlus) - Single [Syntax]
Kings Kaleidoscope + Kings Kaleidoscope Hymns Amazing Grace - Single [BEC]
Tasha Layton Life In Me - Single [BEC]
Lecrae Bless You (feat. Torey D'Shaun) - Single [Reach]
TobyMac God Did It (feat. Jamie MacDonald) - Single [Capitol CMG]
Matt Maher Wait (Radio Version) - Single [Provident]
Hunter Plake Down to Earth - Single [BEC]
QEW JOYXFIX (ft. Stevie Rizo) - Single [Syntax]
Naomi Raine God Will Work It Out - Single [Tribl]
Rave Jesus Runnin' - Single [Provident]
Saints in Exile Bad Vibes - Single [Syntax]
Xander Sallows infinite - Single [DREAM]
Silent Reflection Left Me for Dead - Single [Syntax]
Michael W. Smith Your Love Is A Flood - Single [The Fuel]
John Stratton The Body and the Blood - Single [Pure Mosaic Services]
Regina Vandereijk You're the Light - Single (independent)
Joel Vaughn Feel It - Single [DREAM]
Zach Williams Killed A Man - Single [Provident]
Zauntee Jesus Down In Florida - Single [BEC]

VINYL
Bride Scarecrow Messiah Vinyl [Girder]

DVD
Jordan Smith The People's Hymnal DVD [Gaither]

This Saturday, July 26, 2025
SINGLES
Anthony & Tiffany Salerno What Would You Do? - Single (independent)

Next Friday, August 1, 2025
ALBUMS
Crash Rickshaw Big Sir - EP [Velvet Blue]
McKamey Legacy Holding to Truth [Horizon]
Ordained Thunder Roar [Girder]
V1 Worship Archives [DREAM Worship]

SINGLES
Dan Bremnes Human - Single [Curb]
Lauren Daigle Let It Be A Hallelujah - Single [Centricity]
Sleeping At Last Believe - Single (independent)

VINYL
Disciple Attack! (Limited Run Vinyl) Vinyl [Girder]



For all release dates, click here!
 

Join honey and save on online purchases!
Get all of JFH's indie compilation now totally free!
Check out depositphotos for royalty free images