Whore of Bethlehem – Ritual of Homicide (Review)

Whore of Bethlehem - Ritual of HomicideThis is the third album from blackened death metallers Whore of Bethlehem.

Recommended for fans of Morbid Angel, Deicide, Devangelic, and Oath of Damnation by the promo blurb, this sets an appropriately brutal scene for Ritual of Homicide. I’ll also throw in references to acts such as Belphegor, Dark Funeral, Suffocation, Krisiun, and Altars Ablaze for good measure. Continue reading “Whore of Bethlehem – Ritual of Homicide (Review)”

Imperathron – Mors est Veritas (Review)

Imperathron - Mors est VeritasImperathron are a blackened death metal band from Chile, and this is their debut album.

Mors est Veritas is a 31-minute powerhouse of hostility and blasting heaviness. With a foundation of death metal of the Hate Eternal variety, Imperathron build on this with blackened structures that recall some of Belphegor‘s work. Continue reading “Imperathron – Mors est Veritas (Review)”

Belphegor – The Devils (Review)

Belphegor - The DevilsBelphegor are an Austrian black/death metal band and this is their twelfth album.

Influenced by the 90s era of both black and death metal, The Devils contains 36 minutes of unholy new material, (or 42 if you include the bonus track, which is a rerecorded medley of two older songs). Continue reading “Belphegor – The Devils (Review)”

Christ Dismembered – Christ Dismembered (Review)

Christ DismemberedChrist Dismembered are an Australian black metal band and this is their debut album.

With a duration of only 28 minutes, this album goes for the throat big time. Yes, it’s time for some raw second wave black metal, and Christ Dismembered play their brand of misanthropic hatred very well. Continue reading “Christ Dismembered – Christ Dismembered (Review)”

Nogrod – Abstruce Dismal (Review)

NogrodThis is the début EP from this Indian blackened death metal band.

Think of bands like Behemoth and Belphegor – bands that combine the brutality of death metal with the occult malevolence of black metal. This is the world that Nogrod inhabit.

This is either black metal with a death metal influence, or blackened death metal, depending Continue reading “Nogrod – Abstruce Dismal (Review)”

Evilheart – Quinquaginta (Review)

EvilheartThis is the third album from Mexican Blackened Death Metallers Evilheart.

Essentially evocative Death Metal with a Blackened twist, Evilheart impress with their vision of Extreme Metal on Quinquaginta.

Think of a cross between bands like Behemoth, Morbid Angel, Melechesh, Belphegor and Nile; bands that are at home combining heaviness and mood.

This is full of impressive riffs, leads and solos. The dark melodics and shining leads are richly textured against the harsh rhythms and pounding drums. It’s apparent that thought and practice has gone into this, and it’s an album that’s as precise as it is passionate.

The band work their magic though a mix sheer ferocity and bright melodics, knowing instinctively when to use one and when the other is more suitable. This results in a brutally atmospheric set of songs, allowing the band to choose the best tools for the job, whether that’s churning, seething ambience or straight-to-the-jugular blasting.

Quinquaginta is full of energy, dynamics and choice riffs. The songs are well-composed slabs of well-thought out and proficiently delivered Metal that have a good combination of instant appeal and depth for longevity.

At almost an hour in length this is an album that you can get absorbed in. There’s a lot to enjoy here and the song lengths allow the band to spread their dark wings and disseminate their message on their own terms and in their own time.

If you’re looking for some advanced Death Metal with a brutal atmosphere and professional delivery then Evilheart are here to provide you with what you seek. Very impressive.