PROFUNDI

Canada's Profound Lore Records hits another homerun with PROFUNDI's "The Omega Rising". Following close on the heels of ASUNDER's "Works Will Come Undone", the label is blazing a trail of quality extreme music releases that any self-respecting fan should check out immediately. PROFUNDI is a one-man Swedish black metal project from Jens Ryden (ex-NAGLFAR),and the guy is true talent. It is hard to believe he has performed all instruments, as PROFUNDI sounds like a full band that could compete with the best of the Scandinavian black metal juggernauts. It is no exaggeration to say that "The Omega Rising" borrows with the utmost respect from the likes of EMPEROR and DISSECTION, and mixing with it his own quality brand of semi-epic, ferociously ripping, and darkly melodic black metal madness.

A big, all-encompassing sound - though not in a polished symphonic kind of way — combines wonderfully with viciously scything guitars, dark and melodic black metal harmonies, and a good sense of melody. It is eight strong tracks, including brief keyboard interlude "Silent Hosts of Decay", of smartly arranged ferocity. It's not so much that Ryden has created a new genre or produced a work that will make you forget the masters; it is simply that the man has proven his worth as a songwriter and a master of all things dark and destructive. From the memorable opening track, "…Of Flesh and Blood" right on through to album-closer "Out of the Evening Mist", the experience is wholly satisfying. What is most impressive is that through all the swirling madness of evil chords, creepy organ lines, dive-bombing solos, and Ryden's hair-raising shriek, melody is never very far below the fray.

Many bands of this ilk struggle, at least to some extent, with maintaining a breakneck pace without losing the ability for each song to stand on its own, whether due to a certain melody line that sticks or a chorus that one immediately recognizes with each spin of the disc. It not a problem with which Ryden struggles. "The Omega Rising" is a proud testament to what made the Scandinavian originators so groundbreaking. The album has the atmosphere, the aggression, and the songs to make a spine-tingling and all-around pleasurable listen. Very well done.