Behold the new album by this sulfurous Symphonic Black Metal horde from Brazil, portraying religion as a psychological illness, and how men become blind in the pursuit of power.

Telling part of the story of a philosophical work that portrays religion as a psychological illness, illustrating how men become blind in the pursuit of power, the incendiary Blindness, the band new offering by Santa Luzia/Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil-based Symphonic Black Metal band Paradise In Flames and the follow-up to their 2021 album Act One, will be a blast for anyone with an interest in Cradle of Filth, Dimmu Borgir, and Satyricon. Produced by André Carvalho, mixed and mastered by Tue Madsen, and displaying a sinister artwork by Marcelo Almeida, representing Plato’s allegory of the cave, the new album by O. Mortis on vocals, A. Damien on vocals and guitars, R. Aender on bass, G. de Alvarenga on keyboards and backing vocals, and S.J. Bernardo on drums sounds dark, imposing, multi-layered and sinister just the way we like it in extreme music, undoubtedly taking the band’s name to new heights in their already solid career.

The eerie, phantasmagorical intro Desolate World, inspired by present-day Cradle of Filth, sets the stage for the band to haunt our souls with Concerto No.6 in C Minor, Cold Spring, with the keys by G. de Alvarenga bringing an extra touch of darkness to the already venomous sound blasted by his bandmates, not to mention A. Damien and O. Mortis make a fantastic vocal duo. Then in the pulverizing Black Wings the entire band takes their insanity and passion for the dark side of music to a whole new level, offering layers and layers of powerful metal music infused with classical and operatic moments, therefore resulting in a full-bodied aria of Symphonic Black Metal; followed by Reasons To Not Believe, offering another round of whimsical keyboards intertwined with the caustic riffs by A. Damien and R. Aender, with A. Damien once again roaring like a demonic creature. Their imposing sounds permeate the air in I Feel The Plague, showcasing the band’s trademark Stygian wall of sounds led by the infernal beats by S.J. Bernardo in one of the most detailed songs of the album; and they keep distilling their evil sounds and tones in The Cure, once again blending the fury of S.J. Bernardo’s drums with the finesse of G. de Alvarenga’s keys.

Then a moment of serenity invades our minds in The Priest, before all morphs into more of their chaotic Black Metal with O. Mortis stealing the spotlight with her powerful operatic vocals in paradox with the harsh gnarls by A. Damien. In Endless Night Battle, one of the most epic of all songs, their guitars sound utterly caustic during the entire song, not to mention how S.J. Bernardo pounds his drums like a beast; whereas War Sonata sounds and feels absolutely inspired by the recent sluggish, grim creations by Dani Filth and his horde, and Paradise In Flames sound truly majestic throughout the entire song, with all background elements supporting the vocals by A. Damien and O. Mortis majestically. There’s still a lot of fuel to burn (in hell) starting with Age Of Death, another solid composition bringing forward more of the delicate yet devilish keys by G. de Alvarenga amidst a dense and enfolding musical extravaganza; and last but not least, the band will attack our senses with Angels & Devils, with A. Damien alternating between evil screeches and deep, brutal guttural lines while R. Aender and S.J. Bernardo will make your cranial skull tremble armed with their ruthless kitchen.

There are countless places where you can purchase the excellent Blindness, including the band’s own webstore and Linktree, as well as Apple Music, and don’t forget to also give those Brazilians servants of darkness a shout on Facebook and on Instagram, to subscribe to their YouTube channel, and to stream their music on Spotify. Religion  is indeed a psychological illness that’s driving humanity to its doom, and the fantastic music found in Blindness represents exactly all the darkness and evil we’re marching towards if that doesn’t change anytime soon.

Best moments of the album: Black Wings, I Feel The Plague and War Sonata.

Worst moments of the album: Reasons To Not Believe.

Released in 2024 Xaninho Discos/Demoncratic Records

Track listing
1. Desolate World 1:00
2. Concerto No.6 in C Minor, Cold Spring 3:37
3. Black Wings 4:00
4. Reasons To Not Believe 3:32
5. I Feel The Plague 4:17
6. The Cure 3:13
7. The Priest 3:26
8. Endless Night Battle 4:18
9. War Sonata 3:28
10. Age Of Death 4:15
11. Angels & Devils 3:52

Band members
O. Mortis – vocals
A. Damien – vocals, guitars
R. Aender – bass
G. de Alvarenga – keyboards, backing vocals
S.J. Bernardo – drums