Germany is home to some of the most brutal and well-renowned acts in the Death Metal scene. Since 1997, PROFANATION have been an important player in German Death Metal, and they continue to be that even on their fifth full-length, "Into Cascades of Blood and Burning Soil". The album is dauntingly lengthy with all 10 tracks five minutes and above, but there are some moments on the album that make the duration a little more bearable.

There are moments of the album that are sparing, but the majority of the release is made of mediocrity. The main issue is the songwriting. While there is scarcely a moment where the riffs and segments are put together awkwardly, the issue lies mainly within repetition. Usually bands are lacking in repetition, but PROFANATION seem to be very capable in this regard, in fact, it isn't out of line to say that they repeat themes and riffs too much.

There are moments where repetition is used well, for example, with "Der Gemütliche" when the intro riff makes a reappearance later in the song. In this case, repetition is vital, but that is not the case with other scenarios. "Bloodbath in Heaven" has a main riff that is repeated throughout the majority of the song, and the riff is not even that great. After some time, the riff starts to get old, and the song loses its touch as well as its credibility as a worthwhile track.

This repetition causes problems outside of the individual tracks as well. Because of the excessive repetition, the songs are longer, therefore causing the overall release to be longer. This album is 53 minutes long, and I found myself losing interest by track four. If the riffs weren't repeated so often, the album would be much easier to digest.

This same repetition is seen in most tracks, most notably on "Seed of Evil," however, a more pressing matter is the composition. Among several flaws, the most significant is near the end of the track. A slam-like riff plays and provides the track with perfect closure, but the main riff comes out of nowhere, ruining what would have been a suiting end. Not only is it random, but the two riffs sound nothing alike, making the only suitable transition a sudden and interrupting pause.

Outside of this album's issues, there are moments where the band was able to shine. The final track, "A Place to Pray - A Place for Prey" is the most well-written and executed song on the album. First of all, each member of the band seems to be at their best game on this track. The drummer adds accentuation and differentiation to the music, the vocalist experiments with different styles and the guitarist has some great riffs to dish out. The song is structured very nicely, having the intro riff returning later in the song, and the progression is impressive.

PROFANATION is an important institution in Germany's Death Metal scene, but this album seems to show them lacking in fresh material. While there are standout moments, the album is crippled by the long, repetitive songs and mediocre riffing.