UMUR "Close to a World Below" is the 4th full-length studio album by US, New York based death metal act Immolation. The album was released through Metal Blade Records in November 2000 and it´s the third release of a three-album deal with the label. It´s the successor to "Failures for Gods" from 1999 and features the same four-piece lineup who recorded the predecessor.

On "Close to a World Below" Immolation continue to refine their occult/blasphemous themed death metal and it sounds like the natural successor to "Failures for Gods (1999)". Which means in many ways it uses many of the same musical elements and songwriting ideas of the predecessor, but twist them just enough to ensure that the listener can hear the difference between the two albums and feel that there has been development between the two releases. So "Close to a World Below" is an album featuring heavy and twisted dissonant guitar riffs and leads, busy and creative drumming, and the distinct sounding growling vocals by Ross Dolan. It´s not easilly accessible death metal (if such a thing exists) and it can be quite chaotic sounding and does not rely much on catchy riffs or vocal phrases. Immolation are a no compromise type of artist and "Close to a World Below" is another example of that.

The 8 tracks on the 41:51 minutes long album are dense, raw, dark, and brutal death metal (opening with the ultra blasphemous "Higher Coward"). The quality is high throughout but a little more variation between tracks and just a few more catchy/hook laden elements could have made "Close to a World Below" a more inclusive release. Listening to the album you get the feeling that the band have written and recorded the album first and foremost for themselves and secondly for an exclusive set of fans. The more casual death metal audience is left out, but I guess that´s what no compromise means. I actually greatly respect the band for creating exactly what they want without trying to please anyone else. It just makes for a really hard and inaccessible listen.

Immolation are true originals though and they have a clear vision of how they want their music to sound, and "Close to a World Below" is one of the most standout high quality albums in their discography. A 4 star (80%) rating is deserved.

Warthur Solid, unpretentious, death metal with no symphonic frills or hyper-technical aspirations - Immolation's Close To a World Below isn't an album which drips with originality so much as it's a direct bid to beat the likes of Morbid Angel, Deicide, or early Death at their own game. And whilst the album doesn't quite manage to outshine gems like the best albums by its influences, at the same time it's a credible part of the death metal landscape which proves that New York boys can play dirty, raw Florida-style death metal just as well as any of their competitors in the field.