REVIEW: Ordoxe – Towards Eternity (Album)

On March 31st, melodic black-metalers Ordoxe released their newest album Towards Eternity. Forming way back in 1989, the band have seen their material receive a variety of mixed reviews over the years, and despite the album marking the band’s fourth release, it was their first under the Horror Pain Gore Death Productions label. Now with a new label and a clean slate, a new chapter has started for Ordoxe. One for which they hope ticks all the boxes and sees them as one of the best in their genre.

Towards Eternity starts off with We Are Eternal. A track that starts immediately with a straight double bass pattern that is about as mechanical and forceful as it gets. The guitars aren’t overly complicated and instead fit the flow of the music rather than trying to show-off. Overall the song is very good. It picks up at the right times and goes back to its melodic foundations when it needs to. The Audacious One follows and despite the blast beat by drummer Dominic Dupius being the most striking element, it’s actually the strings that give the song its depth. With textures and tones that once again add to the song, the guys should be proud of what they do. Steve De Cotret’s vocals seem to be a perfect balance between the typical black metal style that of a more melodic nature. This couldn’t be any more evident than in the song Trépas I. The first of three to be named Trépas (meaning ‘demise’ in French) within the ten-track album contains a driving chorus and bass lines that cut through entirely. The use of of backing vocals to power alongside the lead gives Trépas I the components to be a stand-out from the album.

Your Sorrow, My Sorrow is again more of the same in regards to its force. Blast beats and similar fills feature in this song and despite it being solid overall, Towards Eternity could do with some dynamism at this point. Sword of Damocles is another stand-out from the album. With a clear thrash inspired intro, the song kicks into a more vocally driven structure. It feels better structurally than perhaps any other song off the album. Soyez Illuminés some nice snare rolls that give the song something that stands out from others. With the track falling just under four minutes, it has a nice sense of punch about it, something that can be lost with longer running songs. A Passage In Time makes use of pauses and whilst has respected guitar and drum solos, there’s a moment that will certainly stand-out when heard. We won’t say anything about it, instead we’ll leave it up to you to enjoy.

With the end of the album in sight, Trépas II features a rung-out guitar with the lead playing melodically over the top with the drums building in suspense. Something that can equally be mistaken for an old Bullet For My Valentine track before it kicks in. That’s no way meant as an insult either, rather an exemplification of how the album is winding down with a slower pace. The Essence of Life is another song that does the job before leading into the finale, Trépas III. Trépas III is a highlight itself and whilst there is some filler within Towards Eternity, the way it closes the album is fitting.

It’s easy to see why some may draw parallels between Ordoxe and bands like Behemoth and Satyricon, but the truth be told is that they shouldn’t be compared to other bands, rather they should be credited themselves. Towards Eternity is a solid album that despite having some moments that lack that epic nature, it’s fair to say that fans of the genre should definitely check this out.