This is the fourth album from UK black metal band Sidious.
From 2014’s symphonic blackened death metal Revealed in Profane Splendour, to 2019’s reinvention as the raw black metal darkness of Temporal, and then 2022’s slice of contemporary blackened might Blackest Insurrection, Sidious always put out something I want to listen to. Each album so far has been better than the last too. Can Malefic Necropolis continue to follow this upward trend?
Malefic Necropolis is a 35-minute assault of classic black metal fury, yet doesn’t restrict itself purely to old-school worship. Sidious embrace their heart of traditional black metal, yet remember that they have also had some death metal elements in the past. These manifest amidst the storm of razors that is the music as an occasional muscular riff or dark growl, which add a brutal extra touch to Sidious’ merciless attack. Throw in a few other blackened influences from the last couple of decades, and you have a well-rounded collection of tracks that are rooted in the old-school sound, but not enslaved to it.
Malefic Necropolis has a strong sound, allowing all of the musicians to be heard and heard well. The precision of the drums, the nuances and intricacies of the guitars, and the inflections in the vocals are all laid bare, but effortlessly stand up to scrutiny. Unusually for black metal, especially when played in the classic second wave style, you can hear the contribution that the bass provides too. Also unusually, there is a guest vocalist spot on one song, and you can immediately tell where it is and the value it adds, which is an uncommon thing. This is despite me not being familiar with that vocalist’s band either, (Völniir).
Sidious sound ferocious on this new material. It’s fast and lethal, delivering withering punishment for the listener to endure. Here and there it drops into a bleak malevolent groove, scything through the airwaves with focused intent. Malefic Necropolis is a record of sharp icy aggression, but achieves this without becoming a one-dimensional caricature of itself or the style. Essentially, I suppose, Sidious know their art well, and have crafted something that’s very enjoyable and satisfying to listen to. My only issue, as always, is with the inclusion of the two interludes, but to be fair, even these are more worthwhile than most.
So, the answer to the question from earlier, is a resounding yes. Malefic Necropolis is the best Sidious album we’ve yet seen. Well-written, well-delivered, and well-executed, there’s precious little to dislike here if you’re a black metal fan. This is strong, enjoyable, and infectious. Definitely one to check out if you’re partial to bands such as 1349, Barshasketh, Dark Funeral, Enthroned, The Infernal Sea, Khold, Marduk, Mayhem, Satyricon, Watain, etc.
Wonderbox Metal 