Heathen Deity – Satan’s Kingdom (Review)

This is the second album from UK black metallers Heathen Deity.

Brought to us by current and ex-members of Hecate Enthroned, Helvellyn, Nefarious Dusk, and Skiddaw, Satan’s Kingdom contains 59 minutes of old-school Satanic black metal, although of a more expressive and higher quality than you typically find in the wild.

Heathen Deity have been around for a long time, and they put their accumulated experience to very good use on Satan’s Kingdom. The songs are well-written, the performances confident and sharp, and the atmospheres grim. Heathen Deity know the style inside out, and on their new record they create a compelling exemplar of classic black metal for fans of the style to obsess over.

The music is steeped in the frozen winds of the second wave, while also benefiting from a contemporary skillset; the band’s knowledge and abilities that they have amassed over the last couple of decades or so are put to good use, be that in the recording, the writing, the ideas, or the execution. Heathen Deity know the sound they want, and importantly they know how to get it. This capability complements the band’s authentic approach to their art, making for an album that is thoroughly old-school, yet sits comfortably – nay, commandingly – in 2024, sneering at those it will soon dominate.

The production is harsh, yet clear, allowing the music the space and presence it needs to cut deep. The razored riffs draw blood with ease, and the organic drums provide a frosted beat that’s punishing. The blackened leads streak through the songs like darkly vibrant predators, while atmospheric heights arise out of the music’s cold landscapes like broad-winged infernal angels. The vocalist screams through the music like an avatar of annihilation, bringing ruin to all his lethal voice touches. He varies his tone within this too, as well as delivers other vocal styles here and there, (the deep growls and clean singing both work especially well).

I feel I must go back to the riffs too – there are so many of the damn things it’s ridiculous. Some of the riffs are as primal as a storm. Others have such a attitude they almost reach out of the speakers and grab you. Yet others still are just absolutely killer. All of the instruments are performed very well, but the guitars frequently leave scars.

Satan’s Kingdom offers up a really strong package for fans of classic black metal. Honestly, it’s just such a good, well-rounded album. It’s like listening to a record from the 90s, except that it also clearly benefits from being a product of 2024. It’s quite the achievement really.

Satan’s Kingdom is a well-curated collection of tracks, with more variety than you might expect. Heathen Kingdom are brutal and aggressive, but also richly atmospheric and surprisingly sophisticated in places. They’re not afraid to add real texture to their sound, or sometimes to even devote an entire song – Chapel of Filth – to acoustic guitars and clean singing, (which is a great success too), or another – For Thine Is the Kingdom – to just acoustic guitars.

Don’t miss out on Satan’s Kingdom. Heathen Deity are a dark revelation.

Essential listening for adherents of the style.