Demonaz and his Immortal return with another striking album of classic Black Metal, once again inspired by the stunning Norwegian winter, its landscapes and solitude.

Almost five years after the sensational Northern Chaos Gods, the iconic vocalist and guitarist Demonaz and his Bergen, Norway-based Black Metal institution Immortal are back from the underworld with a bitterly cold, thrilling new opus titled War Against All, the tenth studio album in the band’s undisputed career. Recorded by Herbrand Larsen and Arve Isdal at Conclave & Earshot Studios, produced by Arve Isdal, mastered by Iver Sandøy at Solslottet Studio, and displaying a classic artwork by Mattias Frisk, War Against All is once again inspired by the Norwegian winter, its landscapes and solitude, all embraced by the first-class, acid and heavy-as-hell music masterfully crafted by Demonaz alongside session musicians Ice Dale (aka Arve Isdal of Enslaved and Audrey Horne) on bass and additional guitars, and Kevin Kvåle (of Gaahls Wyrd and From the Vastland) on drums, turning it into a must-listen for admirers of Norwegian Black Metal, and positioning it among the best albums of the year hands down.

Immortal begin their demonic Black Metal attack with the stunning, classic title-track War Against All, with Demonaz kicking some fuckin’ ass on vocals supported by the thunderous drums by Kevin and the massive bass lines by Ice Dale; whereas the lyrics in Thunders Of Darkness reek of Immortal (“Ride, thunderous hordes of the sky / Gates from the fiery side / Blackened clouds hold the sky / Rise, the forces of battle unite / Battalions and warriors lines / The enemies into the fire”) while the guitars by Demonaz and Ice Dale sound absolutely scorching. It’s then time to slow things down a bit and bang our heads to the heavy and obscure mid-tempo extravaganza Wargod, again showcasing a fantastic vocal performance by Demonaz; and back to their more ferocious mode, Demonaz and his henchmen bring forth an old school Norwegian Black Metal feast titled No Sun, offering our avid ears that old school flesh-ripping riffage by Demonaz we all love so much.

We’re then treated to another fantastic, bitterly cold creation by Immortal titled Return To Cold, taking us on a one way journey into the Norwegian winter to the raspy vociferations by Demonaz while Kevin’s drums dictate the song’s pace in great fashion, before the trio fires the instrumental piece Nordlandihr, sounding solid, detailed and heavy as usual. However, it’s a bit too long for an instrumental song, and I bet the addition of vocals would have brought the extra kick it needed. The song that carries the name of such iconic band, Immortal, is a lecture in Black Metal, presenting spot-on lyrics (“Light of the moon, enthroned in my mind / I stand in the storm that has taken my soul / I am alive, timeless and strong / A dark energy, the mountain of me”) embraced by a flawless instrumental spearheaded by Demonaz’s incendiary riffs, and last but not least, the icing on the cake is offered to us all in the form of the beautiful Blashyrkh My Throne, with Demonaz blasting his trademark roars and infernal riffs while Kevin and Ice Dale make the earth tremble with their somber kitchen, putting a climatic ending to such epic album.

The gates to the Norwegian Black Metal realm ruled by Immortal are open once again, and you can enjoy their latest installment in all of its glory on YouTube and on Spotify, and order your copy and listen on your favorite platform by clicking HERE. Demonaz is also waiting for you on Facebook and on Instagram with all things Immortal, including tour dates, and on YouTube with more of his Black Metal magic. War Against All is at the same time cold and incendiary, brutal and melodic, harsh and enfolding, proving why Immortal are still one of the most important bands in the history of Black Metal worldwide, and therefore fueling Demonaz to keep moving forward through the vast and gelid Norwegian lands for our absolute delight.

Best moments of the album: War Against All, Thunders Of Darkness, Immortal and Blashyrkh My Throne.

Worst moments of the album: Nordlandihr.

Released in 2023 Nuclear Blast

Track listing
1. War Against All 3:26
2. Thunders Of Darkness 3:48
3. Wargod 4:38
4. No Sun 4:16
5. Return To Cold 4:31
6. Nordlandihr 7:12
7. Immortal 4:14
8. Blashyrkh My Throne 5:58

Band members
Demonaz – vocals, guitars

Guest musician
Ice Dale – bass, additional guitars
Kevin Kvåle – drums