Immolation – Close To A World Below

Immolation’s Close to a World Below, released in 2000, is a towering achievement in death metal—ferocious, cerebral, and unapologetically blasphemous. As their fourth studio album, it marked the end of their tenure with Metal Blade Records and the final appearance of rhythm guitarist Thomas Wilkinson. Musically, it’s a masterclass in dissonance and tension, with Robert Vigna’s twisted riffing and Alex Hernandez’s chaotic drumming pushing the genre’s boundaries into darker, more complex territory.

The album’s eight tracks are relentless, each one a dense wall of sound that balances brutality with eerie atmosphere. Ross Dolan’s guttural vocals deliver lyrics steeped in anti-religious themes, culminating in the epic title track—a nearly nine-minute descent into spiritual defiance.