Sympathy
Invocation

The Sympathy, Canadian band dedicated to a Death Metal rich in technicality, released their third album "Invocation" in 2002. After the first two Thrash-influenced albums, the group decided to change style and distance themselves from their origins; this work is the first result of that change.

The album is powerful, approaching sounds that could be defined as Brutal, but it is truly original and unique. Distorted guitars and blast beats, technical solos, and a heavy growl are constantly accompanied by keyboard layers that evoke sometimes dark, sometimes epic atmospheres within the tracks. One must listen carefully to grasp all the nuances that the band wants to convey. It almost seems as if they want to simultaneously incorporate violence and solemnity, two elements that are really difficult to couple. The group is brave and decides to try it, without achieving magnificent results but neither despicable ones; the CD overall settles at average levels.

The record is essentially divided into two parts, the first with 8 tracks and the second with 4. The initial part is certainly the one most linked to Death Metal, obviously renewed by the use of keyboards (nothing to do with Melodic Death) and the best episodes are probably "Fey Illusion" and "Occupy", while in the last part of the album the band diverges; "Prelude And Toccata In E Minor" is a piece for Piano only, while "Christus Factus Est" is sung entirely by an opera singer accompanied by distorted guitar riffs and a keyboard that produces a sound similar to that of an organ. "Immolation Of The Dragon" is a fierce outburst of just over two minutes, and "Death Of The Immortal" is an instrumental where the buzzing guitars recall the characteristic riffs of Black metal.

A truly unique work, fairly competent in execution and bold in experimentation, an album not easy to listen to but not to be discarded. The main flaw is perhaps the somewhat rough production, but one can overlook this and recognize the band's merits.