Stepping on Angels... Before Dawn
Immolation · 1995
71 min · 16 tracks · death metal
A relentless barrage of guttural growls and intricate guitar riffs conjuring an atmosphere of dread and decay.
Top tracks — play these first
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Holocaust — This track exemplifies Immolation's signature blend of speed and melody, featuring haunting riffs that encapsulate the album's dark themes.
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Despondent Souls — With its intricate song structure and emotive lyrical content, this track showcases Immolation's ability to merge technicality with atmospheric depth.
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Relentless Torment — Opening the album, this track sets a ferocious pace that establishes the relentless intensity characteristic of Immolation's style.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases intricate compositions and a distinctive sound that contributed to the death metal genre.
What we noticed
- The first five tracks maintain a relentless tempo with complex guitar work and guttural vocals, establishing a heavy atmosphere.
- Several tracks feature abrupt tempo changes, shifting from fast-paced sections to slower, more methodical riffs that create tension.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- dynamic journey with intense peaks
- relentless auditory assault experience
- wave-like pacing for deep immersion
- engaging live performance energy
Maybe skip if you
- prefer light, upbeat tracks
- seek instant gratification sounds
Where this album fits
- Career context
- In 1995, Immolation was solidifying their presence in the death metal scene with 'Stepping on Angels... Before Dawn', their second full-length album, following their debut 'Dawn of Possession'. This release marked a pivotal moment as the band began to refine their sound, blending technical proficiency with dark thematic elements.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Suffocation· Nile· Decapitated
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Relentless Torment 2:09
- 2 Holocaust 4:58
- 3 Rigor Mortis 2:25
- 4 Warriors of Doom 5:18
- 5 Immolation 4:30
- 6 Dawn of Possession 3:45
- 7 Internal Decadence 3:02
- 8 Burial Ground 3:39
- 9 Despondent Souls 4:32
- 10 Infectious Blood 4:08
- 11 Despondent Souls (90) 4:28
- 12 Burial Ground (live) 3:40
- 13 Infectious Blood (live) 4:34
- 14 Immolation (live) 4:29
- 15 Despondent Souls (live) 4:36
- 16 Dawn of Possession (live) 11:30
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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