Review GOROD “The Ember Gone”

Gorod hail from France, and their passion lies less with chanson and more with crushing metal. The band has been operating under the name Gorod since 2005, after spending several years as Gorgasm. Their trademark is technically demanding death metal, and that remains the driving force on their new album.

“The Ember Gone” is the band’s eighth studio album and features eight songs. Once again, the Bordeaux-based musicians manage to combine elegant song structures with the sheer force of death metal. This becomes clear right from the opening track, “Signs.” Melodic guitar lines are paired with the raw growls of Julien Deyers, and the combination, along with a carefully layered sound, is one of the things that defines Gorod. The Ember Gone builds on these strengths throughout.

“Devise” follows with its intricate arrangements, and by this point one thing becomes clear: Gorod never lose control of their music. No matter how many twists and turns their sound takes, they always remain firmly in the driver’s seat. Technical skill and thoughtful arrangements run through the entire album.

Whether we dive into the brooding “Forgiveness,” which becomes increasingly intricate toward the end, or take in the atmospheric interlude “Ember,” these guys clearly know what they want their music to sound like. The quieter moments, particularly on “Ember,” provide an effective contrast to the progressive death metal outbursts of tracks such as “Ignite.” Gorod successfully balance massive death metal passages with more delicate sections, and this contributes greatly to the album’s flow while keeping the tension alive. By the time “Remains” brings the record to a close, the journey feels complete.

With The Ember Gone, Gorod have created an engaging album that should appeal to fans of technically demanding death metal. Even on the first listen, the quality of the songs comes through and the album keeps you on your toes, with each twist adding another layer to the experience.