ITP V.021 REVIEW: ZORNHEYM: "THE ZORNHEIM SLEEP EXPERIMENT"

 

 BAND:ZORNHEYM (STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN)

GENRE:SYMPHONIC, BLACKENED, DEATH METAL

LABEL: NOBLE DEMON

RELEASE DATE: 10/22/2021

TITLE:  "THE ZORNHEIM SLEEP EXPERIMENT"

PREVIOUS RELEASES (CATALOG) :

"WHERE HATRED DWELLS AND DARKNESS REIGNS", 9/15/2017 via NON SERVIAM RECORDS.

 

BEST RELEASE (S):  "THE ZORNHEIM SLEEP EXPERIMENT" (2021),  "WHERE HATRED DWELLS AND DARKNESS REIGNS" (2017)

 

 

 

 

 

  ZORNHEYM:  "THE ZORNHEIM SLEEP EXPERIMENT"   TRACK-LISTING: 

1. "CORPUS VILE"

2. "AN EVIL WITHIN"

3. "DEAD SILENCE" 

4. "KEEP THE DEVIL AWAY"

5. "SLUMBER COMES IN TIME"

6. "BLACK NINE" 

(DISC TWO): 

1. "THE VEILING OF BETTELHEIM'S EYE"

2. "THE REVELATION"

3. "KEEP CUTTING"

4. "THE MADNESS THAT LURKS WITHIN (EPILOGUE)"

 

 

 

 

ITP RATING:**** 1/2 (4 and a half out of 5 stars)
PRODUCTION:**** 1/2
SONGWRITING:****
PERFORMANCE:**** 1/2

 

 

Stockholm Sweden's   ZORNHEYM are back with a double disc concept release after melting faces with the bands stunning 2017 debut "WHERE HATRED DWELLS AND DARKNESS REIGNS". 

ZORNHEYM'S  "THE ZORNHEIM SLEEP EXPERIMENT" concept is roughly based on the RUSSIAN SLEEP EXPERIMENT. 

ZORNHEYM'S  "THE ZORNHEIM SLEEP EXPERIMENT", in concept, documents DR (PHD) ALASTOR BETTLEHEIM, director of the ZORNHEIM asylum for the criminally insane.

So with no further ado, ITP V.021 has ZORNHEYM'S  "THE ZORNHEIM SLEEP EXPERIMENT" on tap to review. 

ZORNHEYM'S  "THE ZORNHEIM SLEEP EXPERIMENT" kicks off with  "CORPUS VILE" enters in with symphonic elements,  melodic thrash riffing, death and clean vocals. Choir vocals and church bells adorn "CORPUS VILE" as clean death metal vocals form a duet. 

ZORNHEYM'S "AN EVIL WITHIN" is an instrumental choir piece, an intro before the next track. 

ZORNHEYM'S "DEAD SILENCE" is a rager featuring both screamed and clean vocals with good symphonic arrangements. Thrash drumming adorns "DEAD SILENCE". "Silence, dead silence violence I don't want to die", screams ZORNHEYM lead vocalist BENDLER. The vocal performance on "DEAD SILENCE" rivals FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE, brilliant performance. .

ZORNHEYM'S "KEEP THE DEVIL AWAY" is another amazing track with variations in pace and vocals. A melodic lead guitar riff adorns "KEEP THE DEVIL AWAY" as the vocal performance poses as the voices in a schizophrenics head.

.ZORNHEYM'S  "SLUMBER COMES IN TIME" enters within definitive thrash riffing. At 56 seconds,  "SLUMBER COMES IN TIME" segues into an IRON MAIDEN tech riff adorned by clean gang vocals and light symphonic arrangements mirrored by a lead guitar riff. . .ZORNHEYM'S lead guitar work is woven tight with the rest of the band. I love the keyboard ending as the tale end of "SLUMBER COMES IN TIME"is sung in Swedish. 

.ZORNHEYM'S "BLACK NINE" employs choir vocals for the chorus, quirky symphonic arrangements and chugging guitars for an awesome hellride. . 

ZORNHEYM'S "THE VEILING OF BETTELHEIM'S EYE" is an half acoustic half orchestral dramatic instrumental intro into the next track. 

"Stay away!" screams BENDLER as ZORNHEYM'S "THE REVELATION" segues from the intro. "THE REVELATION employs choral gang vocals with clean and blackened vocals and a tight symphonic performance. 

ZORNHEYM'S "KEEP CUTTING" is a faster track with blastbeats and melodic black metal riffing. "KEEP CUTTING" vocal performance features an exquisite vocal performance (black and clean vocals) as the band play tight symphonic blackened death metal.  "KEEP CUTTING" features some excellent lead guitar riffs. 

 ZORNHEYM'S   "THE MADNESS THAT LURKS WITHIN (EPILOGUE)" is "THE ZORNHEIM SLEEP EXPERIMENT'S",  cinematic, instrumental closer. 

 

 

Well that was interesting. ZORNHEYM'S  "THE ZORNHEIM SLEEP EXPERIMENT' is a tantalizing work of art, melding tasty symphonic arrangements with catchy blackened death metal overtures. 

ZORNHEYM'S  "THE ZORNHEIM SLEEP EXPERIMENT" may be more melodic than its predecessor. However, there is still plenty  of catchy riffing to keep the listener occupied. 

Some of the instrumental interludes could better be integrated to serve the songs.  However, that is just a small bone to pick. 

Overall, ZORNHEYM'S  "THE ZORNHEIM SLEEP EXPERIMENT" is well executed featuring a brilliant vocal performance and the symphonic arrangements are dramatic.  

If you like DIMMU BORGIR, CRADLE OF FILTH or/and FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE, ZORNHEYM' are a band to look out for as they have bright future ahead.  

ITP RATING:**** 1/2 (4 and a half out of 5 stars)
PRODUCTION:**** 1/2
SONGWRITING:****
PERFORMANCE:**** 1/2

 

 

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_Sleep_Experiment 

ZORNHEYM:  "THE ZORNHEIM SLEEP EXPERIMENT": 

https://spak-individualthoughtpatterns.blogspot.com/2021/10/zornheym-streaming-zornheim-sleep.html 

 

 

 

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