I remember the name DISBELIEF from the review of their previous album that was entitled Navigator. I also remember the good things I wrote about this band and how happy I was listening to a band that was deeply influenced by the latest DEATH albums. So, when this promo reached me (Massacre Records still works with actual promo CDs) I was very curious to see/hear what happened to this band since the latest album and the rave reviews it received from the press. I am mentioning the press feedback because in most of the cases this adds a certain amount of pressure to the bands to just compete themselves. Nevertheless, Protected Hell is the band's eight studio work and this is by its own impressive, taking into account that DISBELIEF have been around for twelve years.
I don't know whether it was my down-mood but I found the atmosphere in Protected Hell excellently Black and depressive! The mid tempo of A Place To Hide (I am looking for one, too) and the desperate cries create an overwhelming atmosphere that covers everything with a ton-heavy Death Metal veil. Hate/Aggression Schedule continues in the same killer vein that I dare to say it hides a Doom underlying layer. Nemesis Rising put one foot on the gas pedal looking through the NEVERMORE looking glass diving even deeper into the blackness. Here, I even found some PARADISE LOST finishing touches in the rhythm guitars focusing on the Icon days. I think that this album is stronger than the previous one; the success of Protected Hell lies in the fact that its stronger profile is presented through the darkest feelings expressed inside the down tuned guitars and the chord ripping screams. Don't be mistaken by my saying about mid tempos since the album has also some faster tracks. For example, the SOULFLY sounding (and shouting) Hell Goes On or the drum driven One Nation's Son that I think reveals some mainstream Metalcore elements (not that many though).
The only thing that kind of spoils the very good impression of the album is the quality of the vocals; even though they do fit the general musical direction they can be characterized as single-sided and sometimes do not follow the Progressive Death Metal approach presented in the compositions. But this is a minor glitch to the whole experience the German band is offering here. So, if you like Death Metal and you do not know this band then Protected Hell is the right place to start. Get an idea of what is happening inside this album by watching the video for A Place To Hide below.