Back in 2003, the name of the Czech PANDEMIA came to be known by me due their shows on Latin America (I was at their gig at Duque de Caxias, Rio de Janeiro). And after all these years, when I left my past as only a fan to be a musician, then left it as well to become a writer, here I have to deal with a work of the band, their latest full-length, “Darkened Devotion”. It’s clear that fate has some ironic sense after all. The Portuguese producer Miguel Tereso worked on the mixing and mastering at Demigod Studios, and the result is something that brings the band to the edge, with everything extremely defined and understandable, but as well it sounds brutal and oppressive, with very good choices on the instrumental tunes.

The charming artwork of Giovanni Ponziano is truly fitting on the musical work shown on the album. These battlers (because facing the tours they faced with such levels of hardships isn’t something easy to be done) are still a Death Metal act in a traditional sense, but always with a very good technical level, with very good rhythmic contrasts. But the core factor that makes their music sounds great is the personality: even being into a classic trench, the quartet shows a great and thunderous musical work, full of energy and able to seduce extreme Metal fans easily.

“Depths” is a short instrumental that precedes the massacre imposed by “A Sea to Breathe in”, “The Wretched Dance”, “Nightmare Paradox”, “Heights of Your Fear”, “Catalepsy”, “Sleep Paralysis”, “The Pallor of Detest” and “Blessed, Blessed Oblivion” shows that the quartet learned some new lessons, but keeping their compromise with their past. It’s a mix between very good guttural growls, insane guitar riffs and arrangements (a mark of the return of Alex to the band), and high level of technical playing on bass guitar and drums on the tempos. It’s not a surprise they are respected by its fans even after 30 years of existence.

Hey, Jirka, Alex, ‘Jarda’ and Jakub, it’s great to know that PANDEMIA is still on the road, and “Darkened Devotion” is really a very good release. Congratulations for your 30th anniversary!