Metal Underground.com

Jackal is a term for an assassin. According to John Perkins in his book “Confessions of an Economic Hit man,” a jackal is hired to kill a leader who doesn’t want to play the game, a game that will surely put his country in jeopardy. East Coast death metal legends Immolation put this idea on wax when they recorded the song “When the Jackals Come.” This song puts into perspective the corrupt New World Order policies and visions laid out on the group’s new album “Atonement.”

What’s great about Immolation releases concerning the singing is that one can hear and understand the lyrics, a couple of listens make a lyric sheet obsolete, but don’t expect to hear winey clean vocals, nope, this is brutal death growling! Immolation has always created dark, scary music, but there is something about “Atonement” that just sticks.

People that read lyrics compared to people that listen to music as side chatter is a small matter, so on to the music. “Atonement” doesn’t contain any real curve balls in terms of style, one know what he/she is getting when buying an Immolation album. There is the trademark Robert Vigna false harmonics and the disharmonic segments where all the instruments seem to take on minds of their own. The group knows how to stay diverse and dynamic. Just listen to the tempo changes throughout the album including the huge push during “Rise The Heretics.”

Immolation never seems to get old, as the band creates music that is very catchy. The musical and writing skills can simply not be done justice on this review. One has to hear them. From psychosis-inducing guitar effects, especially via Robert Vigna’s axe, to hollowed-out solos, to pure speed and groove, “Atonement” kills on every battle field. Expect this release to find its way on many year-end lists, especially ones devoted to death metal.