EP REVIEW: Rites Of Damnation – Commando

Following on from the release of their Demo 2018 two track debut, COMMANDO have returned with the release of their new EP Rites Of Damnation. The EP contains both tracks from the demo re-recorded, as well as four brand new tracks in anticipation for their maiden full-length record.

Beginning proceedings is The Sacrament; right from the opening seconds the riffs circling you as the intro slowly progresses while maintaining a high tempo. Slowly but surely the rest of the band come into play and the melody starts to kick in. Frontman Robin Bidgoli is haunting with his vocals as they echo throughout, and there’s certainly an air of BLACK SABBATH throughout the track.

Following up next is Final Judgement, which starts off a touch slower than the opening number. The vocals are just as powerful as the first track, and while the speed isn’t as neck breaking the guitars keep things ticking over nicely at a good headbanging pace. While The Sacrament had quite a drawn out intro, Final Judgement gets straight down to business with all the elements contributing in the opening seconds.

With there only being six tracks on the EP we won’t give too much away as far as the rest of the record is concerned, but two songs definitely worth looking at are the same two remastered from the initial demo – Slumbering Death and Burn The Sky. Starting with the former, you can tell almost straight away that the track has been remastered. The sound is much cleaner from the very first second, but follows the same recipe as the rest of the LP. In terms of the track itself, there are big heavy riffs to introduce it and while it starts quite slow it doesn’t take long for the tempo to pick up. Much like the rest of the LP, Robin’s vocal style doesn’t change and almost has a black metal sound to it, and it certainly gets you moving throughout.

Burn The Sky brings the curtain down on Rites Of Damnation; again when it comes to the overall sound quality it is certainly better than the original demo and clearer, and the structure of the track is pretty much the same as the other tracks you will hear on the record.

Rites Of Damnation is certainly a good record in terms of giving the listener a taste of what the band are about and what they can expect in the future, and is an improvement on the demo. COMMANDO are certainly starting to establish their own sound which is good to see, and it will be intriguing to see how things progress when it comes to the release of their debut full length record.

As a standalone EP, Rites Of Damnation is a solid entry – those who like the heavier side of the metal spectrum will be pleased with the outcome, and leaves you wanting more which is exactly what COMMANDO will be hoping for.

Rating 7/10

Rites Of Damnation is out now via High Roller Records.

Like COMMANDO on Facebook.