Metalcatto
Alright, I’ll tell you something superficial — and I’m not proud of it, but it’s the truth. I had several earlier promos to check out, but I saw Proscription‘s Desolate Divine and its absolutely astonishing cover art and said, “Screw merits and fairness, this thing looks evil!” That kind of aesthetic confidence is hard to resist. Still, you always have to be cautious with artwork that looks too convincing, especially when it comes to Blackened Death Metal. You risk overindulging and ending up sick the whole trip home (which I’m actively trying to avoid during this vacation).
If Desolate Divine wanted to be named crispy Belphegor, I’d be totally fine with that. It channels the same violent energy, aggression, and unforgiving riffs — but it goes further than the meat grinder approach. The album plays with dynamics in a way that feels much more organic than, say, something from Behemoth. For Proscription, speed is just one tool in the box; the band sounds equally vile whether blasting full-throttle or crawling at a death march pace. Abrupt tempo shifts? They’re handled masterfully — not many bands use them this well, but Proscription absolutely does.
Though I’m not a fan of imagining bands “competing” in niche scenes, it’s hard to ignore the way Dormant Ordeal and Proscription seem to appeal to the same existential dread. Instead of technical wizardry, Desolate Divine delivers a colossal sound that crushes you under the weight of a meaningless cosmos. The production makes everything hit like a falling star. Even the vocals dip into that mournful, layered territory reminiscent of early Opeth, which surprisingly fits with the emotional weight of the music. Yes — that’s the word. This album is devastating.
While I did mention the album’s variety and unpredictable structure, it’s still a full-on assault — a sonic battery that would leave many older Black Metal bands envious, and listeners exhausted. The album leans heavily into its strengths, for better or worse. By the final few tracks, it starts to feel numbing — not due to weakness, but due to sheer intensity. If you’re not already a fan of Blackened Death Metal that tries to pierce your soul, that wall of sound might wear thin. For once, I’ll admit: the interlude track “Not But Dust” was a welcome, necessary break.
I’m glad the music lived up to the promise of the artwork — or maybe the artwork lived up to the music? Either way, Desolate Divine came out of nowhere and left a crater in my guts that I’ll probably have to fill with more unhealthy food during my vacation. Or I could just listen to it again. Both are valid ways of coping with the horrors of daily life. Like, is there going to be toilet paper in that festival bathroom or not? Big questions. Thankfully, Proscription is here to ease the pain.
Label: Dark Descent Records
Release date: 29 August, 2025
Website: https://proscription.bandcamp.com/
Country: Finland/USA
Score: 4.0/5.0
Metal Eclipse Reviews 