"Human Pantocrator (Opus Humani)" is the debut album of French metallers ENTROPIA INVICTUS. In Christian iconography, "Christ Pantocrator" is a specific depiction of Christ, where he holds a New Testament bible in his left hand, and makes a gesture of teaching with his right hand. The album artwork - somewhat similar to such iconography - represents the concept of a human being who sees themselves as a deity-like being, and therefore a ruler.

The band's style reminded me somewhat of early DIMMU BORGIR, and of FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE, with plentiful helpings of choirs and dramatic classical instruments. But "Human Pantocrator" doesn't sound like a retread. The energetic guitar riffs and female choral vocals lift up "I will overcome". The orchestral instruments parts make for an interesting contrast with the heavy blackened death sound. The former more than hold their own, and the bombastic feel of some of the orchestral parts adds strength to the album. The swirling strings on "The Builder / The Destroyer" are memorable, and the violin parts on "Reflection" are filled with pathos.

The heavier elements are worthy in their own right; this isn't a case of orchestral elements being used as a gimmick to cover up lackluster songwriting. Jérôme Bougaret's harsh vocals are particularly powerful on "Cosmogenic Pandemonium", "Singularity" and "Reflection". The guitars on "In the attic" have a mournful quality to them, and conjure images of something lost and forgotten. The melancholy bubbling riffs on "Singularity" (among one of my highlights, as you can probably tell) weave seamlessly around the impressive orchestral melodies and choir. Pierjan Vadeboin holds his own behind the kit, with his parts sitting in a good position in the mix (as far as I could tell with my ordinary earphones). His blast beats add to the energy of the tracks, and his fills add interesting texture throughout. The high energy levels are tempered now and then with breaks and tempo changes, which serve to keep things from becoming overwrought. Lastly, a nice surprise on the album was the appearance of the guzheng, a Chinese string instrument somewhat similar to a guitar. It added an extra layer to the sinister-sounding parts on "Tree of creation" and "Reflection". I'd say that "Human Pantocrator" is a strong debut. If you're looking for blackened death metal that leans towards the melodic side of the spectrum, then sit down to a well-choreographed dance of dark and light.