Promethee: Sickness Unto Death

It feels a long time since Swiss metallers Promethee ignited the ears into vigorous enjoyment with their self titled EP. Since then the world of metal an ever evolving brute, has seen many bands matching and exceeding the very promising debut of the Geneva quintet. Promethee in their time away has also become a more powerful and formidable creature, the proof coming in the shape of their new single Sickness Unto Death. A foretaste of their debut album due early next year the track is a monster of a release, an intrusive and enveloping storm of creativity, imagination, and destructive craft.

Formed in 2008 the band hit the ground at pace playing as many gigs as they could whilst picking up a devoted and passionate following in their wake. The end of the following year saw the band record the tracks which became their first EP, a release which only went to enforce and accelerate the acclaim from all quarters. Now with shared stages with the likes of HIM, Rammstein, The Prodigy, The Dillinger Escape Plan, shows and tours across their homeland, France, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Hungary and Canada, as well as that successful EP the band has returned a more mature and mightier force. Sickness Unto Death is a statement of intent and a taste of what is to come from this striking band.

Promethee with their previous release created a brew of progressive metal and hardcore which left indelible satisfaction, their thought and craft impacting but with Sickness Unto Death they have found sharper intensity and a keener mouth watering invention to leave the senses breathless. Vocally Joshua Orsi is an emotive bear whilst his power is backed up by a deeper predatory presence from bassist Mathieu Tappolet and a combative yet expertly controlled attack from drummer Nils Haldi. Guitarists Ludovic Lacroix and Elric Doswald like the songwriting weave hypnotic asides into a direct and numbing spine of sound to surprise and engross from start to finish.

The track emerges on a hot wind of atmosphere, slowly bringing its bulk into view with a slow confidence and intimidating intensity. As it expands with the guitars mesmeric as they whip the ear around the forceful beats, vocalist Orsi begins growling out his venom dripping lyrics. The track does not exactly explode in aggression or effect but from initial eager intrigue it slowly wraps the senses with a deeper and fuller infection. The song continues its slow immersion of the ear drawing one in fully before whipping the floor away from the senses and dropping them into a sea of striking and unsettling ambience. The effect is of free falling through consuming depths of emotive ambience, symphonic whispers and unsettling caresses at every turn. It is an outstanding and ingenious twist which as one breaks free, finds themselves in an eruption of rampaging corruptive killer riffs and explosive manipulation trained rhythms.

If this is an example of their album, roll on 2013. Accompanied by an excellent video, Sickness Unto Death sets down a marker for not only Promethee but melodic extreme metal. Time will tell if the eagerly growing expectations instigated by the single will be realised but the band has certainly offered an impressive persuasion that we will not be disappointed.

You can download Sickness Unto Death from the Promethee bandcamp profile @

RingMaster 21/06/2012

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