Progenitor - Eldritch Supremacy

Angry Metal Guy 30

While black metal is not my go-to, I find myself from time to time eager to discover the next blackened diamond in the rough. Enter Washingtonians Progenitor. With an Emperor-inspired logo and hailing from the same gray, Pacific Northwest climes as fellow black metallers Agalloch, it seemed reasonable to assume that the Progenitor gents had, at least on paper, the influences (and rainy weather) needed to produce a solid release. While we can’t assume quality based solely on inspiration and geography, surely this data provides enough context to at least make an informed reviewing decision…right?

Unfortunately, Progenitor’s first full-length Eldritch Supremacy fails on many levels, not least of which is its inability to establish or maintain a cohesive sound, theme or musical approach. Take the intro, imaginatively titled “Intro,” featuring an awkward, out-of-place spoken word over dull atmospherics. The voice may be reading an H.P. Lovecraft quote, but it sounds like the aural equivalent of a twelve-year-old in corpse paint trying desperately to look trve kvlt while standing underneath a snowy tree in their mom’s backyard. The following title track is an overlong, meandering tune that features quality black metal snarls that are forced to contend with a poorly-delivered deathened roar. Add in some odd timing on the drums that may or may not be intentional and yet another awkward spoken word section, and we’ve just witnessed the very example of making a bad first impression.

Eldritch Supremacy by Progenitor

While Progenitor may be considered black metal, there’s plenty of death metal influence as well. But because the band is unable to successfully wed the two, Eldritch Supremacy is the worse for it. When black metal is at the forefront, the songs feel tighter, better composed, and more engaging. The shrieks, while sometimes slightly off-kilter, pack a definite punch. Take “Crows of Winter,” a tune boasting riffs reminiscent of Blackevil’s “Satan’s Crown” alongside emotive tremolos. It’s the song that served as a convincing argument that somewhere, slithering in and out of each track like some Lovecraftian horror, slunk a serviceable melodic black metal album. Unfortunately, poorly-adapted death metal is always invited to the Eldritch Supremacy party, even if the guests still have PTSD from his last visit. “Beast of Gevaudan” would qualify as one of the album’s best if it weren’t for those troublesome death roars, which now take on a wince-inducing howl, informed, perhaps, by the werewolf-like title creature. Whatever the reason, this vocal choice derails much of what makes this a strong, mid-album track, and it isn’t helped by the dawdling ending. It’s as if Progenitor were contractually obligated to deliver songs that are close to, right at, or slightly over the five-minute mark, even if they don’t have the ideas to justify the length.

I can appreciate that Progenitor chose to employ blackened blasts, shrieks, and tremolos to kick off a majority of their tracks. It introduces some much-needed dynamism and attempts to build momentum. “Treasures of Perversion” uses this approach, yet quickly descends into an unnecessary instrumental section that jettisons the song into six-minute territory without adding anything new or interesting. Album closer “Binding the Corpse of God” doubles down, clocking in at a staggering eleven and a half minutes with very little to show for it. While the opening surprises with a slow, Twin peaks-inspired jazz tune and warbly bass, there’s an odd audio blip at the one-minute mark that reduces the impact and helps defang the sudden arrival of blackened snarls and deathend roars, which, thanks to some perplexing placement of vocals, guitar, and drums, pack about as much punch as a feather-filled boxing glove tossed across the yard by a sleepy octogenarian. The tedious instrumentation continues unabated, padding out a song that could have been half this length, and marking a frustrating end to a frustrating album.

Simply put, Eldritch Supremacy is not good. The first two songs leave a bad taste in the listener’s mouth, and while the increased competency on several follow-up tracks raises one’s hopes, the wearisome bloat, sub-standard DM vox, and some questionable mixing decisions dash those hopes against the rocks quicker than a sick infant in Sparta. But ever the optimist, I feel there’s a lesson here for Progenitor. By carving out the low-quality death metal malignancy and reducing the plodding instrumental sections, they’d be free to focus on their strengths: energetic and downright catchy melodic black metal. Because right now, the only thing “supreme” here is the pizza I’m going to eat to drown my low-scoring sorrows.

Rating: 1.5/5.0
DR: 5 | Format Reviewed: 256 kbps mp3
Label: Self-Released
Websites: progenitormetal.bandcamp.com | facebook.com/progenitormetalband
Releases Worldwide: July 14th, 2023

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