Ninth Realm Damnation's Veil Review
Ninth Realm
Damnation's Veil
Transcending Obscurity
2026
Transcending Obscurity have been doing the independent metal label thing for quite a few years at this point. They began in 2004–2005, originally starting as a music forum and webzine named Diabolical Conquest before transitioning into a record label around 2009 and officially operating under the Transcending Obscurity Records name. Couple that with the fact that they run their ship out of the geographic oddity (for metal or metal labels too) of Mumbai, India and are essentially a one-man operation (owned exclusively by Kunal Choksi), and the fact that they are always releasing quality extreme metal of all varieties and receiving attention on a now global yet firmly DIY scale is amazing. It's in that spirit that we now take a closer look at Maryland death/thrash band Ninth Realm's sophomore album Damnation's Veil.
The quintet formed in 2019. Since that time, they have released six individual recordings, including a demo, two EPs, a promo tape, and a full-length album, as well as several splits and compilations with other bands. The band are headed up by drummer Joey Burke and guitarist Liam McMahon. Joining them here are Ben Hageage (vocals), Amelia Morris (bass) and Charles House (rhythm guitar).
The 11 songs on Damnation's Veil hit hard and perfectly bridge the gap between more incendiary styled thrash (think Demolition Hammer and Power Trip) along with smatterings of classic metal/doom metal (Candlemass/Mercyful Fate) and the knuckle-dragging simplistic death metal doled out by such scene luminaries as Bolt Thrower, Autopsy and Celtic Frost.
It's a mixed heavy bag, but it works and serves to ensure that Ninth Realm don't exactly sound like many bands doing similar these days. They meld their influences carefully and make sure the diverse parts work, (“Damnation's Veil” begins with a minor key slow Slayer-like intro before hitting warp speed for the verses). Then we get the curveballs, (the mid-tempo plod of “Cohorts of the Abyss”) and the low-tuned NWOBHM riffing that peppers “Wyrd of Strideborne” (complete with a harmonized guitar section and blast beat-backed leads). Investigating further, you also get full-throttle d-beat thrash with busy triplet picking and tempo shifts on “Beyond the Void” (check out the galloping breakdown part at 2:02!).
“Vengeance Unto Rot” is perhaps the most death-informed track here, as the chaotic blasts morph into sinewy guitars and Ben's vocals take on a lower bestial growl, whereas on the rest of the songs, he exhibits a more mid-range growl/scream that is characteristically more blackened to my ears.
“All Hail Treachery” is a near 2-and-a-half-minute burner that rolls with thunderous tom work, a doomy section and 4/4 thrash with relative ease before a Bay Area breakdown closes it out, with plenty of chunks and dynamics.
The final track, “Twilight's Blade” is an epic harmonized guitar intro before more Fate-esque riffing pumps up the speedometer into all-out thrash/death before colliding with a classic metal verse and then a doom-littered breakdown. By far my favorite track here.
Damnation's Veil is just over 35 minutes in its run time and sits uniquely amongst the brutal death, tech death, avant garde black metal of the Transcending Obscurity Records releases. Ninth Realm are carving their own niche that is equal parts brutality, melody, thrash-tastic flurries and epic doom/traditional metal. The scene needs a band like this right now. Ninth Realm not only look to the past, but move these multiple genres into the future with focused, interesting and engaging songwriting and laser-focused cruel intentions…
RIYL- Autopsy, Demolition Hammer, Celtic Ftost, Powertrip, Bolt Thrower,Mercyful Fate, Candlemass, Ritual
~TB