Deodium

A band from Latvia, active since 2009

Genre: death metal; black metal

Their name comes from the latin words Deous and Odium, meaning ''God's hatred''. They have various musical influences such as death, crust, punk, groove, which makes for a unique blend of sound.

All their lyrics are in their native tongue - latvian, and they cover themes mostly about struggles that one faces in their life, as well as modern society's degradation, history, the environment and context we live in.

Their recent releases ''Gaismogs'' and "Maldupe" lean towards black metal more than their first releases. The sound has become colder, more atmospheric and gloomier, moving away from the groove elements of the early recordings.

Songs that stood out to me:

"Svešinieks" - this song demonstrates the band's ability to combine aggression with a catchy rhythm. It is a song about alienation and inner conflict, the vocals are full of despair and the guitar riff really makes me bang my head. I think it's a Deodium classic before transitioning to darker waters.

"Atriebe" - it is fast, relentless, and musically dense. It feels like an unstoppable force with the drums dictating a wild tempo. Lyrically and musically it embodies exactly what the title promises - revenge and an eruption of anger.

"VII Gaismogs" - the closing track of the album serves as a great example of the band's evolution. The song is slower, heavier, and hypnotic.

I enjoy all of their discography, however I like their first release the most - EP "Saules Kalpi". Deodium is a must-listen for anyone who appreciates something that balances old-school ferocity with modern, atmospheric darkness.

I find similarities in Mgła, Satyricon, or the groove-heavy death metal of Entombed.