Album Review: "Purified Through Devastation" by Against The Plagues

Purified Through Devastation

Do you ever think of lost art forms?

Besides artisanal toast, how often do we think about artisans?

I was reading an article on trains and the original steam engines were ornate and beautiful instead of the spartan designs that came later.

In this day and age, if a new industry suddenly emerged, I can pretty much guarantee that it would not be counting any artisans among the new folks in said crazy industry.

So don't expect our transporter tubes to look cool I guess.

Today's artist (artisan?) is Against The Plagues. They are an internationally peopled band based out of the midwesteren city of Chicago. That's only 280 miles north of St. Louis...in case they need a map for their next tour.

Against The Plagues

In 2015, how many people really make albums anymore? I've  heard far more releases that were merely a collection of singles than I have an album.

James Leg and Rex Brown both told me about the ebbs and flows of an album.

But, as the music industry has doubled back to the beginning, artists selling singles, it's rare that a band can create this single piece of art in several movements.

Against The Plagues has crafted an album. It's artisanal in its sequencing, writing, and performance.

With nary a second of preamble, Purified Through Devastation breaks out of the gates like Kool-Aid Man through a wall, but though this song is faster than Speedy Gonzalez on meth, this album starts slow.

This song is merely the foundation. It's the first bricks. Against The Plagues is building a house. Over the course of the 46 minute run time, they run the gauntlet and create a record that's only fit for complete listens.

This is one of the best albums of 2015. Once you hear it, you'll understand.

Release: 12/18/15
Genre: Blackened Death Metal
Label: Non Serviam Records
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