The track opens with a disarmingly melodic passage before erupting into the kind of crushing breakdown that could level buildings. Guitarist Jérémie's riffwork anchors the chaos with surgical precision, weaving death metal savagery through the band's established framework of lightning-quick passages and bone-crushing heaviness. The production, courtesy of Avatar Productions Studio outside Rouen, captures every nuance without sacrificing the raw brutality that gives Murder Sermon their distinctive edge.
Where previous releases occasionally felt scattered in their ambitions, "Through the Eyes of the Mirror" demonstrates a newfound focus. The collaborative songwriting process has yielded dividends—each member's contribution feels essential rather than obligatory. The rhythm section locks into a groove that shifts between pummeling assault and intricate syncopation, while the vocal delivery alternates between guttural proclamations and venomous snarls that mirror the track's title with unsettling accuracy.
The band's decision to experiment with multiple mixes before settling on the final version proves prescient. The sonic palette here feels both familiar and refreshingly foreign—death metal elements infiltrate their core sound without overwhelming the explosive energy that remains their calling card. It's a calculated risk that pays handsome dividends.
At just under five minutes, the track feels perfectly calibrated. Murder Sermon resist the temptation to overstay their welcome, instead crafting a concentrated dose of aggression that leaves listeners both satisfied and hungry for more. The final thirty seconds build to a climactic explosion that suggests the upcoming album will indeed represent their most intense work to date.
"Through the Eyes of the Mirror" positions Murder Sermon as serious contenders rather than merely promising upstarts. With their upcoming album looming, they've set expectations impossibly high—and based on this evidence, they might just have the ammunition to meet them.
