Swedish death metal mastermind Rogga Johansson has displayed a penchant for infusing classic style melodies in his kind of death metal which is most evident in his eponymous band and also to an extent in Revolting and Paganizer. It's reminiscent of the timeless bands such as Edge of Sanity, Desultory, early Cemetary, early Tiamat, Pan.Thy.Monium and others where they added a dimension without diluting the heaviness. Rogga's bands are known to be fast and hard-hitting and such melodic depth counterbalances the pummelling demeanour and adds rare emotive appeal. The music straddles the conventional HM-2 death metal and the more melodic side of it brilliantly, keeping it tasteful and not oversaturating it with too much of either. Teaming up with members of Ribspreader and Venom Inc., he brings to life his vision of classic Swedish death metal with its inherent crunchy heaviness and soul-ripping melodies. Albums like these are extremely rare in these times especially ones with genuine emotive quality and conviction.
released June 18, 2021
Line up -
Rogga Johansson (Paganizer, Revolting) - Vocals, Guitars
Taylor Nordberg (Ribspreader) - Drums, Lead Guitars, Keyboards
Jeramie Kling (Venom Inc.) - Bass
Artwork by Juanjo Castellano (The Black Dahlia Murder)
Logo by Christophe Szpajdel (Rogga Johansson)
Layout by Francesco Gemelli (Master)
Official release date - June 18th, 2021
PREMIERES -
No Clean Singing (US) -
www.nocleansinging.com/2021/05/19/an-ncs-premiere-eye-of-purgatory-where-life-slowly-fades/
Metal Bite (US) -
metalbite.com/album/41749/eye-of-purgatory-the-lighthouse
The Metal Wanderlust (US) -
themetalwanderlust.com/2021/04/17/exclusive-premiere-they-silently-await-eye-of-purgatory
REVIEWS -
- "has genuine staying power" - No Clean Singing (US)
www.nocleansinging.com/2021/05/19/an-ncs-premiere-eye-of-purgatory-where-life-slowly-fades/
- "One of the finer bastions of Swedish death metal"- Metal Bite (US) 9/10
metalbite.com/album/41749/eye-of-purgatory-the-lighthouse
- "a beastly riff-machine" - The Metal Wanderlust (US)
themetalwanderlust.com/2021/04/17/exclusive-premiere-they-silently-await-eye-of-purgatory
-"a true masterpiece" - Zephyr's Odem (Germany) 10/10
zephyrs-odem.de/reviews/detail/eye-of-purgatory-the-lighthouse-2021-11127/
- "one of death metal’s most talented icons" - The Killchain (UK)
thoseonceloyal.wordpress.com/2021/04/24/review-eye-of-purgatory-the-lighthouse/
- "the first titanic work of its style that 2021 will see released" - Head-Banger Reviews (US)
headbangerreviews.wordpress.com/2021/04/07/eye-of-purgatory-the-lighthouse
- "damn impressive" - Metal Temple (Greece) 8/10
www.metal-temple.com/site/catalogues/entry/reviews/cd_3/e_2/eye-of-purgatory.htm
-"an excellent Death Metal album"- Necromance (Spain) 9.5/10
necromance.eu/eye-of-purgatory-swe-the-lighthouse/?
-"If you are searching for a melodic death metal album that’s as nasty, dirty and heavy as it is melodic, then your search is over" - Man of Much Metal 91/100
manofmuchmetal.com/2021/06/25/eye-of-purgatory-the-lighthouse-album-review/
-"the most remarkable thing about an album that is entertaining from start to finish" - Dargedik (Peru) 9/10
www.dargedik.com/2021/06/eye-of-purgatory-lighthouse-2021-resena.html?
-"a great melodic death metal album in this modern era" - Noob Heavy (Australia) 9/10
noobheavy.com/eye-of-purgatory-the-lighthouse/?
-"an album chocked full of great Swedish-inspired death metal" - Rock N Load (US) 9/10
rocknloadmag.com/news/eye-of-purgatory-the-lighthouse-album-review/
-"Eye of Purgatory perfectly succeeds" - Acta Infernalis (France)85/100
actainfernalis.com/2021/06/15/review-698-eye-of-purgatory-the-lighthouse-english/
"Great songs, great production and great artwork" - Time For Metal 8.5/10
time-for-metal.eu/eye-of-purgatory-the-lighthouse/
-"a rhythm that carries you away, that sticks in the skull" - Hellfire Magazin (Germany) 8.5/10
www.hellfire-magazin.de/eye-of-purgatory-the-lighthouse/
- "one of his best works to date under the name EYE OF PURGATORY" -
Metal.de (Germany) 8/10
www.metal.de/reviews/eye-of-purgatory-the-lighthouse-421335/
-"a well-executed album" - Metal Utopia (US) 8/10
www.metalutopia.com/eye-of-purgatory-the-lighthouse-review/
- "intensely memorable" - The Metal Observer (Canada) 8/10
www.metal-observer.com/3.o/review/eye-of-purgatory-the-lighthouse/
-"Fast and well crafted, this is another release to add to the continued catalogue of one of the most important men in death metal today" - Musipedia of Metal 8/10
musipediaofmetal.blogspot.com/2021/06/
-"I really enjoy this release. I think that it has some great riffs and memorable moments" - Fleshripper Magazine 8/10
www.instagram.com/p/CQWUnLHJzwy/
-"Imaginative Death Metal, conceived according to old virtues" - Musik Reviews (Germany) 12/15
www.musikreviews.de/reviews/2021/Eye-of-Purgatory/The-Lighthouse/
-"Frosty death metal with a dead taste!" - Deadly Storm Zine (Czech Republic)
www.deadlystormzine.com/2021/07/recenzereview-eye-of-purgatory.html?
-"a great, solid release" - Metal Roos (Germany) 4/5
metal-roos.com.au/eye-of-purgatory-the-light-house-album-review/
-"ʺThe lighthouseʺ arises as a strong album, classic in its compositions but with a little something that makes listening very pleasant." - Music in Belgium (Belgium) 3.8/5
www.musicinbelgium.net/reviews/eye-of-purgatory-the-lighthouse/
-"death metal that blends extremity and intensity with melodic moments" - Heavy Music HQ (US) 3.5/5
heavymusichq.com/heavy-music-hq-album-reviews-week-of-june-18-2021/
-"enjoyable album" - Metal Archives (Canada)
www.metal-archives.com/reviews/Eye_of_Purgatory/The_Lighthouse/931522/
-"a memorable, engaging and brutal melodic death metal album" - Angry Metal Guy (US)
www.angrymetalguy.com/eye-of-purgatory-the-lighthouse-review/
- "I cannot find fault with Eye Of Purgatory‘s latest effort" - Metal Epidemic
www.metalepidemic.com/eye-of-purgatory-the-lighthouse/
- "Fast, brutal and groovy" - MMH Radio
mmhradio.co.uk/label-spotlight-transcending-obscurity/
-"a very good album" - Eternal Terror (Germany) 4.5/6
www.eternal-terror.com/reviews/index.php?id=7214&type=B
-"a very successful blend of emotionally charged Melodeath and a mystical substructure of the theremin-like keyboard sounds" -
Stormbringer.at (Austria) 3.5/5
www.stormbringer.at/reviews/17307/eye-of-purgatory-the-lighthouse.html?
-"old school death metal with catchy melodies and softer vibes, creating an accessible yet incredibly addicting mix." - French Metal (France) 17/20
www.french-metal.com/chroniques/eyeofpurgatory.html?
-"one of the most successful works in these last 2-3 years" - All Around Metal (Italy) 3.5/5
allaroundmetal.com/component/content/article/26-releases/8586-secondo-album-per-gli-eye-of-purgatory-di-rogga-johansson
- "fast and punchy" - RTMB Music (Mexico)
rtmbmusic.com/reviews/5956/eye-of-purgatory-lanza-primer-tema-album-debut
-"a title that brings the glory times to life" - My Revelations
www.myrevelations.de/2021/06/16/eye-of-purgatory-the-lighthouse/
-"a melodic death metal of high lineage. That is, varied, flawlessly performed, with stanzas, bridges and chorus" - True Metal (Italy)
www.truemetal.it/recensioni/the-lighthouse?
-"Impressive stuff" - Worship Metal
www.worshipmetal.com/reviews/eye-of-purgatory-the-lighthouse-album-review/?
-"this is an old-school style death metal album, but with its own twist" - Distorted Sound Mag (U.K)
distortedsoundmag.com/album-review-the-lighthouse-eye-of-purgatory/?
-"Boundless energy, speedy Death Metal at high levels of excellence that will make your metallic day shine brighter" - Rock Music Raider
www.rockmusicraider.com/eye-of-purgatory-the-lighthouse-review/?
-"a combination of the melody of At The Gates and brutality of Entombed this is sure to please Swedeath purists" - Ave Noctum (U.K)
avenoctum.com/2021/06/25/eye-of-purgatory-the-lighthouse-transcending-obscurity/?
- "mind-blowing" - Dioses de Metal (Spain)
diosesdelmetal.org/eye-of-purgatory-the-lighthouse-2021/
-"Damn good stuff" - Third Eye Cinema (US)
thirdeyecinema.wordpress.com/2021/04/27/their-deeds-oft-interred-with-them/#more-37020
-"an atavistic death metal" -
Rocking.gr (Greece)
www.rocking.gr/reviews/mini/2021-6#10071
-"the album isn’t a masterpiece, but it is a pleasant hearing of melodic death metal" - Metal Invader (Greece)
metalinvader.net/eye-of-purgatory-the-lighthouse/?
-"The combination of pounding death with melodic depth turns out to be a prize song" - Wings Of Death (Netherlands)
www.wingsofdeath.net/79000-Eye-Of-Purgatory-The-Lighthouse
-"a constantly maneuvering maelstrom of metal that blends the wizened old school sensibility" - Flying Fiddlesticks Music Blog
flyingfiddlesticks.com/2021/06/18/eye-of-purgatory-the-lighthouse-transcending-obscurity-2021/?
-"a very solid death metal record!" - Zax Record Reviews
www.instagram.com/p/CSKUXusrlGp/?
2021 Transcending Obscurity Records
Main Store -
tometal.com
Bandcamp -
transcendingobscurity.bandcamp.com
US Store -
transcendingobscurity.aisamerch.com
Europe Store -
transcendingobscurity.8merch.com
Group -
facebook.com/groups/transcendingobscurityrecords
Facebook -
facebook.com/transcendingobscurityrecords
YouTube Channel -
youtube.com/TranscendingObscurity
Instagram -
instagram.com/transcendingobscurity
Twitter -
twitter.com/transcendingobs
Band Facebook -
facebook.com/eyeofpurgatory
