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Album Review – Mystic Prophecy / Hellriot (2023)

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German’s own Heavy and Power Metal division is ready to unleash hell with their incendiary twelfth studio album.

Formed initially as a side project in the already distant year of 2000 in Bad Grönenbach, Germany by Progressive Metal band Valley’s Eve bandmates R.D. Liapakis and Martin Albrecht, the unrelenting Heavy and Power Metal outfit Mystic Prophecy has been on a roll since their inception, having released already 12 studio albums (plus their 2021 EP Hail to the King), including their newborn spawn titled Hellriot, following up on their highly acclaimed effort Metal Division. Produced by the band’s own frontman R.D. Liapakis (aka Roberto Dimitri Liapakis, who’s by the way the band’s only remaining founding member), mixed and mastered by Henrik Udd at Studio Fredman, and displaying a beyond metalized artwork by Dušan Marković, Hellriot is an ode to all things metal masterfully brought into being by the aforementioned R.D. Liapakis together with guitarists Evan K and Markus Pohl, bassist Joey Roxx, and drummer Hanno Kerstan, positioning it as one of the top Heavy and Powerl Metal albums of 2023 without a shadow of a doubt.

The incendiary riffs by Evan and Markus will put you to bang your head like a true metalhead in the breathtaking title-track Hellriot, while R.D. beautifully declaims the song’s tribute-to-the-legends lyrics (“We are the legion of the damned / We let the dragons fly together till the end / Screaming for vengeance, the number of the beast / With the devil by our side the dogs of hell unleashed”) in a lecture in classic Heavy Metal with Thrash and Speed Metal nuances, followed by Unholy Hell, darker and heavier than its predecessor, with Joey shining armed with her bass while Hanno pounds his drums nonstop in the name of darkness. Then we have Demons Of The Night, bringing forward a galloping rhythm inspired by the music by Iron Maiden and Judas Priest, sounding absolutely solid and entertaining, and led by the scorching guitars by Evan and Markus. In Metal Attack the name of the song says it all, offering us all a vibrant onrush of Power Metal full of metallic bass punches, fierce riffs and hammering drums, whereas Paranoia is slightly below the rest of the album in terms of energy (not to mention all background effects sound out of place) despite its decent backing vocals and drums. And back to their more traditional Heavy and Power Metal mode we face Revenge And Fire, a headbanging feast where R.D. once again kicks some serious ass on vocals supported by the fiery music blasted by his bandmates.

After that, the low-tuned, menacing bass by Joey kicks off the beyond exciting Rising With The Storm, a lesson in old school Heavy Metal that will certainly put you to dance, with R.D.’s vocals being nicely complemented by the song’s spot-on backing vocals. In Road To Babylon the band presents poetic words are declaimed by R.D. (“One man is born to conquer the world / The signs of his faith are falling / One man in the name of gods / Hail to the king all nations are calling / With fire and steel he sends his warning / The Persian king Darius is falling”) while the rest of the band crafts a dark yet very melodious sound, resulting in an amazing creation by those Teutonic metallers, and things get even better in Azrael, one of the best songs of the album, paying homage to the angel of death with Joey being on fire not only armed with her rumbling bass but also with her powerful backing vocals. In other words, it’s impossible to stand still to this horn-raising hymn, which is also the case in Cross The Line, a beautiful fusion of Heavy and Power Metal with modern-day Hard Rock by Mystic Prophecy presenting some striking solos by Evan and the hammering drums by Hanno, while R.D. invites us all to sing along the song’s stylish lyrics together with the band. Finally, closing this flammable album of heavy music we have World On Fire, where once again we’ll feel the urge to start dancing, banging our heads and raising our fists in the air nonstop. The world might be coming to an end, but at least it will be to the sound of this stylish metal tune.

This fantastic explosion of classic German Power Metal can be appreciated in all of its glory on YouTube and on Spotify, but of course in order to support such amazing band from the European scene you can purchase a copy of Hellriot by clicking HERE, and catch the band live in your city by clicking HERE. Furthermore, R.D. Liapakis and his crew are also waiting for you on Facebook and on Instagram with news, more of their music and other nice-to-know details about them, inviting you to join their metallic army in their quest for heavy music. Mystic Prophecy are unleashing hell with their new album, and may their inner fire keep burning bright for decades to come with more superb releases like this one.

Best moments of the album: Hellriot, Rising With The Storm, Azrael and Cross The Line.

Worst moments of the album: Paranoia.

Released in 2023 ROAR! Rock Of Angels Records

Track listing
1. Hellriot 3:21
2. Unholy Hell 3:32
3. Demons Of The Night 3:15
4. Metal Attack 4:13
5. Paranoia 3:45
6. Revenge And Fire 3:31
7. Rising With The Storm 4:13
8. Road To Babylon 4:09
9. Azrael 3:30
10. Cross The Line 4:00
11. World On Fire 4:04

Band members
R.D. Liapakis – vocals
Evan K – lead guitars
Markus Pohl – rhythm guitars
Joey Roxx – bass
Hanno Kerstan – drums

Album Review – Primal Fear / Code Red (2023)

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Like a phoenix arising from the ashes, the Teutonic masters of Power Metal are back in action with their thirteenth opus, a hard-hitting metal lesson and living proof of the healing power of music.

The phoenix arising from the ashes is a much-cited motif in cultural history; it seldom fits as well as it does with the triumphant return of Esslingen, Germany-based Power Metal masters Primal Fear armed with their thirteenth studio opus, titled Code Red, the follow-up to their critically acclaimed 2020 album Metal Commando. Recorded and mixed by Sebastian Roeder, Mitch Kunz and Ralf Scheepers at Backyard Studios, mastered by Jacob Hansen at Hansen Studios, and displaying a triumphant eagle of steel rising from the ashes in the artwork, which could definitely represent the rebirth of our beloved Mat Sinner, who almost lost his life a couple of years ago, Code Red is a hard-hitting metal lesson and living proof of the healing power of music and the brotherhood behind the riffs where vocalist Ralf Scheepers, bassist (and survivor) Mat Sinner, the triple guitar phalanx of Tom Naumann, Alex Beyrodt and Magnus Karlsson, as well as drummer Michael Ehré, blast us with a zeitgeisty manifesto that provides eleven essential arguments of why power metal will simply never go under.

Their Power Metal feast begins in full force with the headbanging Another Hero, where Ralf already showcases all his vocal range, not to mention the song’s catchy, singalong chorus (“Where is the savior who shows us the way / We need a guide back to sanity / In times like these without piece of mind / We need someone who stops this inhumanity / Another hero”); whereas Bring That Noise (originally called “The Flood” when details of the album were revealed) sounds even more melodic thanks to the great guitar job done by Magnus, Alex and Tom with their incendiary riffs and solos. Needless to say, it should work perfectly if played live. The second single of the album released a few weeks ago, the mid-tempo tune Deep in the Night, focuses on the power of the riff while Michael keeps pounding his drums with tons of precision, followed by Cancel Culture, where we face modern-day words roared by Ralf (“Into the circus of life we were pushed out of nowhere / Growing, maturing and loving and hating the game / Saddle the horse for a future that’s basically unknown / We procreate, viciate, twisting the facts without shame / Manipulating”) in almost seven minutes of classic, hammering Heavy and Power Metal for the masses. And those German metallers invest in a fun and vibrant Hard Rock and Rock N’ Roll vibe in the dancing and thrilling Play a Song, showcasing striking riffs and the always rumbling bass lines by the one and only Mat Sinner, proving why heavy music will always have a healing power for all of us metalheads.

It’s then time for a more introspective, darker song titled The World Is on Fire, with the band’s guitar triumvirate once again distilling their sharp and caustic riffs for our total delight. Put differently, it’s classic Primal Fear with no shenanigans spearheaded by Ralf’s trademark soaring vocals. Acoustic guitars then set the tone in Their Gods Have Failed, before the music evolves into a Doom Metal-infused sound that reminds me of some of the best Black Sabbath songs with Dio on vocals; whereas another epic intro explodes into sheer Power Metal magic in Steelmelter, with Magnus, Alex, Tom and Mat kicking some serious ass armed with their stringed weapons, making it clear why Primal Fear always thrive when they focus on a more straightforward sonority. They keep blasting their instruments in great fashion in Raged by Pain, where Ralf will pierce your ears with his high-pitched screams, resulting in another strong contender to be part of their upcoming live performances. The band slows things down and brings forward a power ballad titled Forever (by the way, one more ballad named “Forever” in the rock and metal world), a decent song where Ralf steals the spotlight as usual, although not as good as all of their other ballads form previous albums. Last but not least, those Teutonic rockers get back on track with their metallic, razor-edged Power Metal in Fearless, led by the classic beats by Michael and, therefore, positioning it as an excellent tune for some vigorous headbanging.

In a nutshell, Code Red (which is available for a full listen on YouTube and on Spotify) represents much more than just another powerful album in their undisputed career; it’s an inspiring and emotional opus for everyone who follows Primal Fear and was extremely worried about the health and the fate of the band’s mastermind Mat Sinner. Fortunately, the gods of metal seem to be on Mat’s side, allowing him to be the band’s own phoenix and get back in action alongside his loyal bandmates to provide us with more of their electrifying Heavy Metal. Hence, don’t forget to give the guys form Primal Fear a shout on Facebook and on Instagram, and to grab your copy of another incendiary blast of heavy music by those German metallic eagles from the Atomic Fire Records website or by clicking HERE. A lot of people thought this Power Metal steel eagle was dead and gone after what happened with Mat, but of course they were absolutely wrong, and Code Red is among us to remind us why they’ve been one of the most powerful names of the scene since their inception back in the 90’s. As they say in their new album, when the whole world feels wrong, just play a song (by Primal Fear)!

Best moments of the album: Bring That Noise, Play a Song, The World Is on Fire and Steelmelter.

Worst moments of the album: Forever.

Released in 2023 Atomic Fire Records

Track listing
1. Another Hero 4:59
2. Bring That Noise 4:49
3. Deep in the Night 5:47
4. Cancel Culture 6:48
5. Play a Song 4:15
6. The World Is on Fire 5:01
7. Their Gods Have Failed 7:23
8. Steelmelter 4:46
9. Raged by Pain 3:22
10. Forever 5:12
11. Fearless 5:29

Band members
Ralf Scheepers – vocals
Mat Sinner – bass, backing vocals
Magnus Karlsson – guitars, keyboards
Alex Beyrodt – guitars
Tom Naumann – guitars
Michael Ehré – drums

Concert Review – Kamelot (The Opera House, Toronto, ON, 08/22/2023)

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A memorable night of Symphonic and Power Metal in the city of Toronto where the women from all bands stole the show with their undeniable talent, energy, beauty and charisma.

OPENING ACTS: Xandria and Battle Beast

I’m sorry, all guys from the three bands that kicked some as last night at The Opera House in Toronto during the Awaken the World Tour 2023 with the bands XANDRIA, BATTLE BEAST and KAMELOT, but the girls absolutely stole the show. On a very pleasant summer night in the city, Ambre Vourvahis of Xandria, Noora Louhimo of Battle Beast, and Melissa Bonny of Ad Infinitum ( who’s taking care of the female vocals for Kamelot during this North American tour) were flawless on stage, exhaling talent, charisma and passion for heavy music, gaining nothing but respect and admiration from the crowd who turned the venue into a “metal sauna”. It was a very special night for me as it was my first time ever watching all three bands live (plus Melissa!), and they didn’t disappoint this extreme music fan here at all; quite the contrary, I only have good things to say about all bands and musicians responsible for a very special night in Toronto.

Precisely at 7pm, Bielefeld, Germany-based Symphonic Metal outfit XANDRIA kicked off the night’s metal ceremony with a short but extremely powerful and vibrant performance spearheaded by the Greek goddess Ambre Vourvahis, who was clearly very excited for playing in Toronto for the first time in her career, and visibly emotional for the warm and wild reception received from her Torontonian fans to the point she didn’t even know anymore if yesterday was Tuesday (something that made everyone laugh together with her, of course). Ambre was amazing not only during their setlist formed mainly of songs from their excellent new album The Wonders Still Awaiting, those being You Will Never Be Our God, Reborn and Ghosts (my favorite of their setlist, by the way), plus the fan-favorites Nightfall and Valentine, inspiring everyone at The Opera House to raise their horns, screams and dance together with her. It was a little weird seeing Xandria on stage without a bass player, as apparently Tim Schwarz had some issues to get his visa to Canada in time for the show (and I’ll never understand why our government gives a hard time to hardworking musicians to grant them their visas, while at the same time they easily allow a bunch of garbage into the country), but the four members who were there put on their hearts and souls into their performance, and I bet we’ll see Xandria in Canadian lands soon based on the total sync and endless energy flowing between the band and the crowd.

Setlist
You Will Never Be Our God
Reborn
Nightfall
Ghosts
Valentine

Band members
Ambre Vourvahis – vocals
Marco Heubaum – guitars
Rob Klawonn – guitars
Dimitrio Gatsios – drums

Right after a quick break, Finland’s own Heavy/Power Metal torchbearers BATTLE BEAST started their lecture in what can be labeled as “Dance Metal” for the delight of all fans at the venue, making everyone extremely happy (and I was beyond happy for finally seeing them live after an over 10-year wait) due to the level of electricity and power crafted by the band on stage. Still promoting their 2022 album Circus of Doom, those Finnish rockers put on a breathtaking show, with songs like Straight to the Heart, Wings of Light and Eden making everyone at the venue dance even if they didn’t want to. And what can I say about the incendiary performance by Noora Louhimo on vocals? That woman is a beast live, showcasing not only a flawless, jaw-dropping vocal performance, but her onstage presence, moves and charisma are way beyond awesome, and at least for me there’s no other woman in metal, rock or pop music capable of uniting all those qualities at the same time like her. Well, of course Noora’s striking performance is only that good because of the support she gets form her bandmates, in special bassist Eero Sipilä and drummer Pyry Vikki, and the result was a mesmerizing show that made every single person inside (and maybe some outside the venue) to keep their fists and horns high in the air nonstop. Thank you, Battle Beast! And please get back to Toronto soon for another “metal party of our lives”, like Noora herself said.

Setlist
Circus of Doom
Straight to the Heart
Eye of the Storm
Where Angels Fear to Fly
Wings of Light
Eden
Master of Illusion
King for a Day

Band members
Noora Louhimo – vocals
Joona Björkroth – guitars, backing vocals
Juuso Soinio – rhythm guitars
Eero Sipilä – bass, backing vocals
Janne Björkroth – keyboards, orchestrations, backing vocals
Pyry Vikki – drums

KAMELOT

There was a minor delay in the start of the atmospheric and cinematic show by Tampa, Florida’s own Progressive/Melodic Power Metal masters KAMELOT, but nothing that would take away the excitement from a jam packed venue. Blending songs from their newest album The Awakening, including Opus of the Night (Ghost Requiem), One More Flag in the Ground and NightSky, with some of their classics such as March of Mephisto and Sacrimony (Angel of Afterlife), the band created back in 1987 by guitarist Thomas Youngblood was on fire throughout their entire set, inviting the crowd on a metal journey full of epic guitar solos, whimsical keys, and the classy vocals by Swedish frontman Tommy Karevik (who’s by the way married to Canada’s own Kobra Paige, the awesome frontwoman for Kobra and the Lotus), driving their loyal fans to ecstasy with each and every song played. There was even time for an excerpt of Queen’s classic “We Will Rock You” during one of the songs, led by Tommy, a tribute to Canada’s institution Rush during Alex Landenburg’s drum solo when he played part of the all-time hit “Tom Sawyer”, and a touching tribute by Tommy to everyone we lost due to the pandemic in the past few years.

As aforementioned, just like what happened in the past with several amazing vocalists the likes of Simone Simons, Charlotte Wessels, Elize Ryd, Alissa White-Gluz, Floor Jansen and Noora Louhimo, the female vocals on this tour were masterfully done by Melissa Bonny, known for her work with Ad Infinitum, The Dark Side of the Moon, Evenmore and Rage of Light, and let me tell you that the band couldn’t have chosen a better vocalist for the task as Melissa is simply fantastic with both her clean vocals and harsh growls. As a matter of fact, it was clear how much the crowd at The Opera House loved Melissa when she delivered her enraged roars in her stylish attire, turning the temperature up considerably during the show. I’m a huge fan of female growlers, and of course I was stunned every time she was a she-demon incarnate on stage. If you know nothing or have never heart of Melissa before, I highly recommend you go after all of her work because she’s by far one of the most talented singers of the new generation.

After the last few notes from Liar Liar (Wasteland Monarchy), the crowd kept screaming as loud as possible to thank Kamelot for their awesome performance, while the band couldn’t hide the huge smile on their faces for another truly successful concert. They promised they’ll return to Toronto sooner than later, and let’s be honest, as Tommy is married to Kobra Paige, why not having a Kamelot plus Kobra and the Lotus tour in Toronto and other Canadian cities in the near future? I’m sure all fans would love to see Tommy and Kobra singing together on stage, right? And speaking about females vocalists touring with Kamelot, after the concert was over my friend Keith Ibbitson of Lower Eastside Photography (responsible for all the amazing photos of this review) and I had the utmost pleasure of meeting Melissa in person (thanks to my friend Pedro, of A&P Reacts), and I must says she’s a really down-to-earth, humble and sympathetic person, apart of course form being a sensational vocalist and performer. Needless to say, she needs to return to Canada as soon as possible, but next time with Ad Infinitum to show the Canadian metallers everything she’s capable of. To be honest, all bands need to return to the city for a lot more concerts, and I’m sure that will happen really soon because Toronto needs more Melissa Bonny, more Xandria, more Battle Beast, and more Kamelot without a shadow of a doubt.

Setlist
Overture
Veil of Elysium
Rule the World
Opus of the Night (Ghost Requiem)
Insomnia
When the Lights Are Down
Vespertine (My Crimson Bride)
New Babylon
Karma
Sacrimony (Angel of Afterlife)
Song for Jolee
NightSky
Drum Solo
March of Mephisto
Keyboard Solo
Forever

Encore:
Phantom Divine (Shadow Empire)
One More Flag in the Ground
Liar Liar (Wasteland Monarchy)

Band members
Tommy Karevik – vocals
Melissa Bonny – vocals
Thomas Youngblood – guitars
Sean Tibbetts – bass
Oliver Palotai – keyboards, orchestrations
Alex Landenburg – drums

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Album Review – Mental Cruelty / Zwielicht (2023)

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A German Blackened Deathcore outfit arises from chaos with their fourth studio album, pushing the band’s sound to new blacker intensities.

Rising from the ashes of personal and professional chaos, Karlsruhe, Germany-based Blackened Deathcore outfit Mental Cruelty has been blasting our ears with their incendiary fusion of Black Metal, Symphonic Black Metal, Symphonic Deathcore and Brutal Deathcore since their inception in 2016, becoming standard-bearers for the sound in Europe. Now in 2023 the band currently formed of newcomer Lukas Nicolai on vocals, Nahuel Lozano and Marvin Kessler on the guitars, Viktor Dick on bass and Danny Straßer on drums returns in full force with Zwielicht, or “twilight” in German, the fourth studio album in their career. Mixed and mastered by Josh Schroeder at Random Awesome! Recording Studio, and displaying a classy artwork by Mariusz Lewandowski (R.I.P.), the album pushes the band’s sound to new blacker intensities forged in emotional riffing, heavy “back to the roots” breakdowns, and epic orchestral arrangements that surpass the already elite standards that have become synonymous with their name, being highly recommended for fans of Lorna Shore, Ingested and Vulvodynia, just to name a few.

The cinematic intro Midtvinter will embrace your soul and take you to Mental Cruelty’s demonic lair for all eternity, exploding into Obsessis a Daemonio (or “possessed by a demon” in Latin), where Lukas sounds truly possessed on vocals while Danny smashes his drums nonstop, all spiced up by grandiose, epic background sounds in a flawless fusion of Symphonic Black Metal and Deathcore. As imposing and sinister as the previous track, Nahuel and Marvin continue to deliver sheer aggressiveness and insanity through their riffs in Forgotten Kings, another pulverizing creation by the quintet; whereas not a single space is left empty in Pest thanks to the rumbling bass by Viktor and the stone crushing beats by Danny, making a beautiful paradox with the orchestral and symphonic elements in the background. Then drinking form the same Stygian fountain as Lorna Shore we have Nordlys (“Northern Lights” in Norwegian and Danish), offering more of the demonic, enraged roars by Lukas and sounding absolutely grim and infernal form start to finish.

Leaning towards pure Symphonic Black Metal, the band will darken the skies in Mortal Shells, showcasing their always thunderous kitchen supporting the venomous riffs by Nahuel and Marvin, whereas the interlude Zwielicht brings to our ears an embracing dosage of poetry declaimed in German by Lukas, before the band takes our minds and souls by storm with Symphony of a Dying Star, bringing forward more of their undisputed hybrid of Black Metal and Deathcore with symphonic elements, sounding absolutely thrilling from start to finish with Danny stealing the show with his demolishing drums. In The Arrogance of Agony we’re treated to wicked lyrics (“The glance of death as I look into the mirror / The faceless staring back at me can’t recognize this person / This is something that I used to be”) amidst a solid display of extreme music, followed by the breathtaking A Tale of Salt and Light, offering us all one final round of their poetic words (“Blessed are the ones who walk the salty desert / Blessed are the ones who conquer their fear in the ocean / Every second I battle the current / Swim against the whim of nature / Hunters of the deep circle of my path / Hopes washed away by the pull of the tide”) while the band’s guitar duo keeps slashing our ears with their riffs and solos, resulting in a climatic conclusion to such diverse and vibrant album.

“Let us embrace a new era of darkness by bringing the ‘black’ into blackened heavy music. Join us on the way down to infernal gates of hell to be rebirthed back to life. The album will contain the most mind-bending variety of different heavy musical influences and sounds. Epic symphonic orchestras accompanied by slam breakdowns; this will have it all. Inspired from metaphors written by nature, death, and inner demons,” the band commented about their newborn beast, available for a full listen on YouTube and on Spotify, and you can purchase a copy of it by clicking HERE or HERE, not to mention the guys from Mental Cruelty are also eagerly waiting for your feedback on their music on Facebook, on Instagram and on YouTube. Just like the name of the album, the music by Mental Cruelty perfectly depicts the feeling we all sense during twilight, as their music gets darker and darker while there’s still fragments of light in our sight throughout the album, and may this new version of the band keep on delivering amazing albums like Zwielicht to us fans of heavy music for many years to come.

Best moments of the album: Obsessis a Daemonio, Symphony of a Dying Star and A Tale of Salt and Light.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2023 Century Media

Track listing
1. Midtvinter 1:43
2. Obsessis a Daemonio 5:07
3. Forgotten Kings 5:57
4. Pest 5:52
5. Nordlys 5:19
6. Mortal Shells 6:11
7. Zwielicht 1:33
8. Symphony of a Dying Star 4:11
9. The Arrogance of Agony 5:22
10. A Tale of Salt and Light 7:31

Band members
Lukas Nicolai – vocals
Nahuel Lozano – guitars
Marvin Kessler – guitars
Viktor Dick – bass
Danny Straßer – drums

Album Review – Orphalis / As The Ashes Settle (2023)

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Counterbalancing Technical Death Metal with brutal elements, this ruthless Teutonic horde will crush your senses with their beautifully tempered, vibrant and energetic new album.

Counterbalancing Technical Death Metal with Brutal Death Metal elements, Dortmund, Germany-based outfit Orphalis might have found the perfect stylistic balance for the kind of music they are playing on their fourth full-length album, titled As The Ashes Settle, sounding astonishingly fluid given its dynamic and multifaceted nature. Displaying another sinister artwork by Adam Burke of Nightjar Illustration, As The Ashes Settle is a beautifully tempered, vibrant and energetic album that is bound to leave an indelible mark in the style, all masterfully crafted by Thomas Szczecina on vocals, Jens Dürholt and Morten Formeseyn on the guitars, Thomas Köhler on bass, and Phillip Hatcher on drums, being therefore recommended for fans of Benighted, Cutterred Flesh, Aborted, and Enragement, among several others.

The title-track As the Ashes Settle is a fantastic hurricane of brutality blasted by Orphalis where Thomas Szczecina roars in great fashion supported by the technical yet violent drums by Phillip and the scorching riffs by Jens and Morten, whereas Ritual of Conflagration sounds as infernal and detailed as the opening track, resulting in another lesson in Technical Death Metal by the quintet where Thomas Köhler and Phillip craft a thunderous and menacing atmosphere with their respective bass and drums. The unstoppable Jens and Morten deliver sheer electricity, fury and insanity through their riffs and solos in Watch Them Descend, a lecture in Death Metal that will please all fans of the genre; followed by The Wolves Draw Near, absolutely demolishing from the very first notes delivered by Jens and Morten, being therefore perfect for slamming into the circle pit while Thomas Szczecina’s guttural roars get deeper and more demented as time passes by. And investing in a more technical and intricate sonority without forgetting to add their trademark aggressiveness to the music we have An Effigy to Humanity, where Phillip is once again bestial behind his drums.

Such unrelenting Teutonic horde keeps hammering our cranial skulls mercilessly in Staring into Ruin, with their strident, piercing riffs walking hand in hand with the low and thunderous kitchen by Thomas Köhler and Phillip. Then after the unnecessary electronic interlude Moon Supremacy the band returns in full force with From Shadows Arisen, a neck-breaking extravaganza where the guitars by Jens and Morten couldn’t have sounded any heavier, or in other words, it’s first-class Brutal Death Metal with some welcome progressive elements. There’s no sign of slowing down as their technical yet visceral sounds keep coming strong in Labyrinth Configuration, showcasing another vile vocal performance by Thomas Szczecina; while the second to last song of the album, titled To Embrace Defeat, is also perfect for headbanging like a metalmaniac, with their fulminating riffs and beats darkening the entire atmosphere for our total delight. Lastly, get ready to be crushed into tiny pieces by Orphalis in Crowned in Hatred, starting in a grim, obscure manner before exploding into more of their Technical Death Metal. Furthermore, Thomas Szczecina leads his horde with his inhumane, deep growls, not to mention how metallic the bass by Thomas Köhler sounds.

In summary, Orphalis know exactly how to explode our senses with their refined hybrid of progressiveness and brutality, and As The Ashes Settle is the perfect depiction of the top-notch quality of their work. Hence, don’t forget to follow the band on Facebook and on Instagram for news, tour dates and so on, to stream all of their wicked creations on Spotify, and above all that, to add the breathtaking As The Ashes Settle to your personal (and devilish) collection by purchasing a copy of it from their BandCamp page, from Apple Music or from Amazon. As The Ashes Settle is a beast of an album highly recommended for anyone who loves Death Metal, it doesn’t matter if it’s old school, modern, technical or brutal, leaving us eager for more of the pulverizing music by one of the most interesting names of the current German scene hands down.

Best moments of the album: As the Ashes Settle, Watch them Descend and Crowned in Hatred.

Worst moments of the album: Moon Supremacy.

Released in 2023 Transcending Obscurity Records

Track listing
1. As the Ashes Settle 4:34
2. Ritual of Conflagration 3:58
3. Watch Them Descend 3:35
4. The Wolves Draw Near 4:21
5. An Effigy to Humanity 4:01
6. Staring into Ruin 4:33
7. Moon Supremacy 0:57
8. From Shadows Arisen 3:34
9. Labyrinth Configuration 3:46
10. To Embrace Defeat 4:58
11. Crowned in Hatred 4:48

Band members
Thomas Szczecina – vocals
Jens Dürholt – guitars, backing vocals
Morten Formeseyn – guitars
Thomas Köhler – bass
Phillip Hatcher – drums

Album Review – Lucifuge / Monoliths of Wrath (2023)

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Dealing with all sorts of evil, blasphemic and anti-religious themes, the multi-talented German musician Equinox and his Lucifuge are back from the underworld with a new and pulverizing album of Blackened Thrash Metal.

Mixed and mastered at Necromansy Studio, and displaying a somber and caustic artwork by Karmazid, the breathtaking new opus by Bremen, Germany’s own Black/Thrash Metal entity Lucifuge, entitled Monoliths of Wrath, is more than just the follow-up to the project’s critically acclaimed 2021 album Infernal Power, but also a blast from the past paying homage to the 80’s while perfecting the addictive blackened speed metalpunk sound hailing from German lands. Sounding dirtier and more sulfurous than ever, the project’s mastermind, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Equinox continues his path of obscurity dealing with all sorts of evil, blasphemic and anti-religious themes throughout the whole record, while musically speaking the album’s thrash-oriented sound takes cues from classic Sodom, Kreator, Exodus, and of course Slayer, turning it into a must-listen for admirers of the genre.

Slayer-inspired riffs ignite the demonic thrashing attack titled From Cosmos to Chaos, with Equinox showing no mercy for our souls with his sick beats and demented vocals, whereas in The Cult of Infinity we face lyrics that exhale old school Thrash Metal (“Shaking and trembling / the world is spinning at infernally maddening speed / Doomsday approaching / Unable to grasp the meaning of infinity”) while the music feels like his personal tribute to the thrashing masterpiece Bonded by Blood. Let’s keep banging our heads to the dirty riffage by Equinox and his Lucifuge in Before the Altar of Famine and Desire, perfect for dancing like a monkey inside the circle pit; and Equinox continues to hammer his drums in Visions of Death, also delivering scorching riffs and rumbling bass lines in the name of Black and Thrash Metal. After such demented tune, Equinox’s strident riffs walk hand in hand with his frantic drums in Enemies of the Sun, keeping the album at a high level of insanity and rage in a lecture in Blackened Thrash Metal.

A slow and groovy start suddenly explodes into another feast of Black and Thrash Metal in Dissolving into God, with Equinox sounding even more devilish on vocals, followed by The Art of Putrescence, a lesson in the art of delivering ass-kicking, grim lyrics (“I have given up future and philosophy / Owning merely a cot on which to unlearn the sun and signs / Stretched out there, spin out the hours / Objects with suggest suicide”) wrapped up by a bestial sound. Then it’s time to keep slamming into the pit to the sound of Resources of Self Destruction, bringing forward the intricate but always visceral riffs by Equinox; and Physiognomy of Failure is another headbanging creation by Lucifuge that pays homage to classic Thrash Metal while also bringing fresh elements form the current Black Metal scene, or in other words, it’s a breathtaking tune with Equinox kicking ass once again with his raspy vocals. Finally, closing such incendiary album we have The Path to Perdition, with his bass and drums creating an avalanche of sounds that flows majestically until the very end.

You can experience all the speed, dirt, sulfur and insanity blasted by Lucifuge in Monoliths of Wrath by listening to the album in full on YouTube and on Spotify, but of course in order to show Equinox all your love for his music you should purchase a copy of the album from the band’s own BandCamp page, or from the Dying Victims Productions’ BandCamp page or webstore as a regular CD, an LP or a very special edition gatefold LP on beer colored vinyl including a poster, a sticker, a post card, a woven patch and a download code. Equinox is also eagerly waiting for you on Facebook and on Instagram with lots of news about Lucifuge, or simply click HERE for all things Lucifuge. If you’re looking for that piercing, frantic and incendiary thrashing sound inspired by 80’s metal music, then Monoliths of Wrath is the perfect album for you. If not, what are you doing here anyway?

Best moments of the album: From Cosmos to Chaos, Enemies of the Sun and Physiognomy of Failure.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2023 Dying Victims Productions

Track listing
1. From Cosmos to Chaos 4:14
2. The Cult of Infinity 3:31
3. Before the Altar of Famine and Desire 3:15
4. Visions of Death 4:02
5. Enemies of the Sun 3:15
6. Dissolving into God 4:45
7. The Art of Putrescence 3:34
8. Resources of Self Destruction 3:43
9. Physiognomy of Failure 3:28
10. The Path to Perdition 3:59

Band members
Equinox – vocals, all instruments

Concert Review – Helloween (History, Toronto, ON, 05/23/2023)

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The most beloved pumpkins in the universe finally returned to Toronto after a decade for a flawless night of old school, thrilling Heavy Metal, fists in the air and, believe it or not, a lot of mosh pits.

OPENING ACT: Hammerfall

What a night, my friends! What a night! History was made at History (pun intended) last night when HAMMERFALL and the almighty and unparalleled metal institution HELLOWEEN took the city of Toronto by storm with the US and Canada leg of their United Forces Tour 2023, a dream come true for the thousands of fans who were brave enough to leave the comfort of their homes on a Tuesday night (the second worst day for concerts, only behind Monday) knowing they would be absolutely exhausted today for work or school. The weather was simply perfect, as it wasn’t neither too hot nor too cold, plus of course the fact that History is an awesome venue for a night of old school metal music. Kudos to the security team for being so helpful and polite, including letting me use the bathroom inside, get back out, and then enter with my friend, and kudos also to Embrace Presents for making a dream come true for me personally (and I’ll talk more about that later).

The line for the merch stands was absolutely insane, concentrating perhaps more people than the crowd that was already positioning themselves for the opening act on the floor section, Sweden’s own Heavy/Power Metal horde HAMMERFALL, but as soon as the clock hit 7pm sharp and their concert started I think a good chunk of the fans waiting to buy merch abandoned their spots in line to enjoy the concert (and they made the right decision, of course). Although their latest albums are not something we can call “exciting” or “masterpieces” compared to their early discography, when Joacim Cans, Oscar Dronjak and crew hit the stage they showed Toronto everything they got with a solid setlist, playing songs from their 2022 album Hammer of Dawn as well as classics the likes of The Metal Age, Let the Hammer Fall and Hearts on Fire. The entire band was visibly happy to be in the city playing their music to an avid Torontonian crowd, making us all forget that it was Tuesday night, therefore looking more like a Friday night of fun and metal.

One of the funniest moments was when Joacim was introducing the song Let the Hammer Fall, saying that whenever he said “let the hammer…”, the fans should shout “FALL!”, but apparently a few fans were either sleeping or too slow to understand such “difficult” instructions, making Joacim point to the name of the band at the back of the stage and joke about it, something in the lines of “not sure if you noticed, but our name is Hammer… FALL!” Also, it looked like every single song with the word “hammer” on the title or on the chorus was the cue for Oscar to sport his hammer-shaped guitar, like in Hammer of Dawn and Hammer High. I have no idea if that guitar is good or bad, I mean, how much it impacts his playing skills, but it looked really cool specially when he raised it high in the sky like the hammer of Thor. That was basically a good depiction of the level of energy flowing throughout their set, sounding and feeling as electric as Mjölnir, and leaving their diehard fans avid for maybe a headlining tour in Canadian lands in a not-so-distant future.

Setlist
Brotherhood
Any Means Necessary
The Metal Age
Hammer of Dawn
Blood Bound
Last Man Standing
Hero’s Return / On the Edge of Honour / Riders of the Storm / Crimson Thunder (Crimson Thunder 20th Anniversary medley)
Let the Hammer Fall
(We Make) Sweden Rock
Hammer High
Hearts on Fire

Band members
Joacim Cans – vocals
Oscar Dronjak – guitars, backing vocals
Pontus Norgren – guitars, backing vocals
Fredrik Larsson – bass
David Wallin – drums

HELLOWEEN

When I said last night’s concert was a dream come true for me, I wasn’t joking. Finally, after over 30 years being a diehard fan of German Power Metal masters HELLOWEEN, I was able to witness the band live with Michael Kiske on vocals, plus of course the awesome Andi Deris and Kai Hansen, but it was Mr. Kiske who stole the show with his unique voice. None of you have any idea of how much I used to listen to Helloween in my teens (and I keep doing that until today, of course), and how much I dreamed of seeing them live with Kiske. As soon as they hit the beautiful stage at History with their new 12-minute classic Skyfall, from their 2021 self-titled masterpiece, I was already voiceless for screaming the song’s lyrics together with them. By the way, talking about new Helloween songs, during the hard-hitting Mass Pollution, the one and only Mr. Andi Deris, who’s by far one of the most entertaining frontmen in the history of metal music (and owner of a breathtaking voice), made a joke saying he wouldn’t have to translate one of the lines of the song to ask us all in Toronto to “make some noise”, generating some good laughs form the mesmerized crowd and, obviously, a lot of noise for the delight of the entire band.

Although this was my first time seeing them with the three vocalists from all of their phases, I think it’s during this United Forces Tour that they started “breaking” their setlist in three different acts; the first one with Skyfall as an intro to the entire band and all vocalists; then from the majestic Eagle Fly Free (thank you, Kiske, for such flawless performance during that classic!) until the old school Heavy Metal (Is the Law), Kiske, Deris and Hansen would take turns singing the songs; and finally, from then on they joined forces by singing all remaining songs together. I personally think that was an amazing way to entertain their fans during the entire show, keeping things fresh and vibrant until the very last second. Moreover, one of the nicest moments of their set was when they played the fast and metallic Save Us, not only providing us with one more unforgettable vocal performance by Kiske, but also igniting some sick mosh pits on the floor section. Yes, you read it correctly, mosh pits at a Helloween concert! That’s something you can only see in Canada, I guess! Not only that, Kai Hansen was also responsible for keeping the mosh pits moving well with his medley of old school German Heavy Metal anthems, including Metal Invaders, Ride the Sky, and especially Heavy Metal (Is the Law), and if you’re familiar with those songs you know how furious a circle pit can get while they’re being played, right? Thank you, Kai Hansen, for being so metal!

After such fantastic journey back to the band’s early days, it was time for a serene moment with Forever and One (Neverland), where Kiske and Deris sat down, explained in a funny way that the song was written by Deris for his “beloved ex-wife”, and delivered a passionate and very emotional vocal duet, followed by a soulful solo by Sascha Gerstner. However, that moment of peace didn’t last for too long as right after that it was time for the band to crush us all with their new hit Best Time, an inspiring song that put most of the fans (including myself) to dance so cool it is! And what can I say about the following songs, Dr. Stein and How Many Tears? I personally consider How Many Tears one of the best and most metal songs of all time, and seeing the entire band playing it live to perfection was priceless. And although Michael Weikath, Markus Grosskopf and Dani Löble didn’t talk much during their entire set, they did speak through their instruments, with How Many Tears being the ultimate display of their dexterity, feeling and passion for heavy music. Do I need to say that song ignited some more wicked mosh pits?

The show was almost over, but not before Andi Deris got his famous top hat for their David Lee Roth-like classic Perfect Gentleman, followed by 13 minutes of pure metal awesomeness with Keeper of the Seven Keys. Damn, that was superb! And their coup de grâce came in the form of nothing more, nothing less than I Want Out, a genre-defining masterpiece that became even more thrilling with all the black and orange giant balloons thrown to the crowd. Try imagining mosh pits going on during such classic with those balloons flying around the venue. That’s how perfect the night was, got it? I was exhausted after all was said and done, but at the same time I was ready for more Helloween in Toronto (or anywhere else in the world), and hopefully it won’t take another decade for one of my beloved bands to return to the city. Toronto loves you, Michael Kiske! Toronto loves you, Andi Deris! Toronto loves you, Kai Hansen! Toronto loves you, Michael Weikath! Toronto loves you, Sascha Gerstner! Toronto loves you, Markus Grosskopf! And Toronto loves you, Dani Löble! Please come back to the city for more as soon as possible! You’ve got the POWER to return! You are divine!

Setlist
Halloween (Snippet / Intro)
Orbit
Skyfall
Eagle Fly Free
Mass Pollution
Future World
Power
Save Us
Walls of Jericho
Metal Invaders / Victim of Fate / Gorgar / Ride the Sky
Heavy Metal (Is the Law)
Forever and One (Neverland)
Guitar Solo (Sascha Gerstner)
Best Time
Dr. Stein
How Many Tears

Encore:
Perfect Gentleman
Keeper of the Seven Keys

Encore 2:
I Want Out
For the Love of a Princess (James Horner song)

Band members
Michael Kiske – vocals
Andi Deris – vocals
Kai Hansen – guitars, vocals
Michael Weikath – guitars
Sascha Gerstner – guitars
Markus Grosskopf – bass
Dani Löble – drums

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Album Review – Dysease / Era of Decay EP (2023)

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A new Progressive Death Metal entity from Germany is armed with their debut EP, leading us all to a dystopian world that lets us dive into a universe of atrocities, (im)mortality and miseries of our modern-day society.

Formed in 2018 by former members of Iuramentum, Skin Harvest, Morok and Defector in Siegen, a city in Germany in the south Westphalian part of North Rhine-Westphalia, the five-piece Progressive Death Metal act Dysease is dedicated to creating dark and haunting sounds by blending brutal riffs, catchy refrains, and progressive and thrash elements while prioritizing groove and atmosphere to immerse listeners in a dystopian ambiance. Now in 2023 the band formed of René “Wolles” Ax on vocals, Pätrick L. and Rafael G. on the guitars, Dimitri V. on bass, and Lukas Fenster on drums will attack your senses with their debut EP, entitled Era of Decay, leading us all to a dystopian world that lets us dive into a universe of atrocities, (im)mortality and miseries of our modern-day society, all embraced by the first-class, sharp production, mixing and mastering by the band’s own bassist Dimitri V., making the album’s atmosphere and vibe even heavier and more menacing.

A song about the problems in dealing with nature, and the revenge of nature on man, the opening track Unfurl The Plague is a demonic, heavy-as-hell display of Death Metal where René roars deeply nonstop, presenting a serene break before the band returns with their pulverizing sounds, flowing into the interlude Prologue, exhaling melancholy and setting the stage for the infernal Manufractured, based on the 2013 movie Elysium, where a future fictional dystopian world is described, while musically speaking Lukas crushes his drums mercilessly supported by the incendiary riffs by Pätrick and Rafael, being highly recommended for some classic headbanging. Then dedicated to all dictators hungry for power who act against the will of society and are ultimately overthrown, the band brings forth six minutes of Doom Metal-infused obscurity titled Deterrence By Brutality, with Dimitri and Lukas making our skulls tremble with their respective bass and drums, not to mention how demonic the guttural vocals by René sound. Lastly, we’re treated to the menacing The Staring Eye, dealing with the “locked in” syndrome described from the point of view of an affected person, showcasing the always somber riffage by Pätrick and Rafael and, therefore, putting a climatic and absolutely savage ending to the album.

A brand new entity in the world of extreme music, the guys from Dysease are waiting for you on Facebook with news, tour dates and other nice-to-know details about the band, and on YouTube with more of their music and videos. However, in order to properly welcome them to our beautiful underground scene, you should definitely purchase a copy of the album from Apple Music or from Amazon, stream it in full on YouTube and on Spotify, or simply click HERE for all things Dysease. As the band mentions in their amazing debut EP, we’re indeed living in an era of decay, where our society is falling to pieces and everything that’s wrong and evil is taking over the world. Well, at least we have the striking metal music by bands like Dysease to keep us entertained until our inevitable end.

Best moments of the album: Manufractured and The Staring Eye.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2023 Independent

Track listing
1. Unfurl The Plague 5:39
2. Prologue 0:31
3. Manufractured 5:13
4. Deterrence By Brutality 6:03
5. The Staring Eye 4:25

Band members
René “Wolles” Ax – vocals
Pätrick L. – guitars
Rafael G. – guitars
Dimitri V. – bass
Lukas Fenster – drums

Album Review – Brimstone Gate / Return from the Brimstone Portal (2023)

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This Teutonic army will attack your senses with their debut album, paying tribute to 90’s Black and Death Metal from Norway, Sweden and England while also presenting some modern influences.

Formed in 2020 in the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic in Hamm, a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, Black/Death Metal horde Brimstone Gate has just unleashed their debut album, entitled Return from the Brimstone Portal, paying tribute to 90’s Black and Death Metal from Norway, Sweden and England while also presenting some modern influences. Recorded by the band’s two founding members Carsten Nachtigall and Michael Gruen, mixed and mastered by Michael “Obelxxx” Elsner, and displaying a classic artwork licenced by iStock and re-worked and designed by Michael Gruen, Return from the Brimstone Portal is recommended for admirers of the music by Belphegor and Zyklon, showcasing all the talent and hard work by Simon Stellmacher (Niflhel) on vocals and bass, and Carsten Nachtigall (Niflhel) and Michael Gruen (Niflhel, Deathstruction) on the guitars and drum programming.

Cinematic, somber and atmospheric from the very first second, Beyond the Gate works as an intro to a horror movie, dragging our souls to the Stygian lair ruled by Brimstone Gate in Return from the Brimstone Portal, exploding into a technical yet visceral form of Death Metal with Simon roaring like a beast, therefore adding an extra dosage of dementia to the overall result; and the guitars by Carsten and Michael bring fire to their music in Voices of the Dead, accompanied by the song’s massive beats in another solid display of German Death Metal. Then spearheaded by the venomous screams by Simon we have Emperor of the Painful Realm, sounding infernal from start to finish to the song’s hammering drums.

The second half of the album begins with another bestial creation by the quintet named Path to Your Liberation, offering Simon’s rumbling bass and the always scorching riffs and solos by Casrten and Michael, and it’s then time for a neck-breaking extravaganza entitled The Void Darkened, displaying the band’s usual savagery spiced up by another demonic drum explosion. There’s no time to breathe as those Teutonic metallers keep darkening the skies with their fusion of Black and Death Metal in Death Arises in the Wind, showcasing more of their piercing, dirty riffs; whereas closing the album it’s time for the six-minute tune Lost Nightsun, sounding bold and austere while led by the deep roars by Simon, albeit a bit too lengthy in the end.

The new opus by Brimstone Gate is available for a full listen on YouTube and on Spotify, but of course if you’re an admirer of extreme music with an epic background story you can purchase a copy of the album (and consequently show all your support to the underground scene) directly from their own BandCamp page. Don’t forget to also follow the band on Facebook and on Instagram for tour dates, news and so on, and to subscribe to their YouTube channel for more of their incendiary music. Those German metallers are on absolute fire in Return from the Brimstone Portal, the first step in their promising career, and an amazing display of the always entertaining Black and Death Metal scene from one of the meccas of heavy music worldwide.

Best moments of the album: Return from the Brimstone Portal, Emperor of the Painful Realm and Path to Your Liberation.

Worst moments of the album: Lost Nightsun.

Released in 2023 ADG Records

Track listing
1. Beyond the Gate (Intro) 1:33
2. Return from the Brimstone Portal 5:00
3. Voices of the Dead 4:37
4. Emperor of the Painful Realm 4:11
5. Path to Your Liberation 5:26
6. The Void Darkened 5:12
7. Death Arises in the Wind 5:36
8. Lost Nightsun 6:26

Band members
Simon Stellmacher – vocals, bass
Carsten Nachtigall – guitars, drum programming
Michael Gruen – guitars, drum programming

Live lineup
Dominik Zillmann – vocals
Carsten Nachtigall – guitars
Michael Gruen – guitars
Robin Vieler – bass, backing vocals
Daniel Müller – drums

Album Review – Thron / Dust (2023)

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Behold the majestic fourth album by this unrelenting German Black Metal horde, explicating the undeniable fact that everything will turn to dust someday.

Forged in 2015 in the deep darkness of the Black Forest, a mountainous region in southwest Germany, bordering France, the unrelenting Black Metal horde Thron is back with a fantastic new opus, titled Dust, their fourth full-length album following up on their 2021 effort Pilgrim. Currently formed of Samca on vocals, PVIII and Raven Dust on the guitars, SXIII on bass and J on drums, the band incorporated new elements to their sound in Dust by going back to their very roots which lie in the early 80’s, when bands like Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and Mercyful Fate ruled the field, while at the same time taking inspiration from the 90’s when bands like Tiamat, Edge of Sanity and Sentenced expanded their horizons. This fusion of sounds, combined with serious dedication to the glorious Progressive Rock dinosaurs of the 70’s, the love for the dark extreme musical arts with blasting fury and aggressive vocals, the crisp recording at Black Halo Studios Rheinfelden, Chäuer Studios Bärn and RL Studios Freiburg, the first-class mixing and mastering by Christoph Brandes at Iguana Studios, and the sinister artwork by Khaos Diktator Design, turn Dust into a must-listen for admirers of the music by Dissection, Watain, Necrophobic, Unanimated and Tribulation, just to name a few.

The devilish guitars by PVIII and Raven Dust will send shivers down your spine in Dying In The Mud, kicking off the album on a beyond dark note with Samca gnarling nonstop in the name of Black Metal; and such talented German horde puts the pedal to the metal in Return…, delivering classic Black Metal spearheaded by the massive drums by J while the band’s guitar duo keeps firing sheer obscurity from their axes, sounding furious, insane and evil just the way we like it. SXIII adds his share of heaviness to the music through his bass lines in The True Belief, leaning towards Melodic Black Metal while Samca keeps vociferating manically, being therefore perfect for some vicious headbanging, whereas back to a more infernal mode the band will demolish our souls with The Golden Calf, once again showcasing a superb guitar job and demonic blast beats, not to mention its welcome breaks and variations. And not a single second of peace is offered to us all in Monologue, another straightforward, Stygian Black Metal extravaganza showcasing the usual demolishing drums by the infuriated J.

The intro in The Eve is certainly spine-chilling, and that sulfurous, demonic vibe grows in intensity before exploding into old school Black Metal with hints of Death Metal. Needless to say, Samca sounds utterly grim on vocals, whereas Into Oblivion is another very harmonious and piercing creation by Thron venturing through the realms of modern-day Melodic Black Metal where all riffs and solos are absolutely incendiary. More of their razor-edged riffs will penetrate deep inside our psyche in The Tyranny Of I, with J dictating the song’s venomous pace with his intricate but also violent beats; followed by Face Of Despair, darker and more demonic than its predecessors thanks to its hints of Doom Metal while remaining loyal to the band’s core essence, presenting another superb vocal performance by Samca and overflowing desperation, hatred and sulfur. Their second to last breath of blasphemy comes in the form of The Wrong God, with PVIII and Raven Dust cutting our skin deep with another flawless riff attack, while lastly the band still has time to fulminate our senses with Martyr, where J is bestial behind his drums supported by the rumbling bass by SXIII throughout the song’s almost seven minutes of pure Black Metal awesomeness.

In summary, Thron more than nailed it with the apocalyptic Dust, delivering a collection of eleven Black Metal anthems that will undoubtedly place it among the best Black Metal albums of the year. Furthermore, such sensational blast of extreme music made in Germany can be appreciated in all of its obscure glory on YouTube and on Spotify, and if you consider yourself a true servant of the underworld you should definitely purchase a copy of it from the Listenable Records’ BandCamp page or webstore, or by clicking HERE. Don’t forget to also follow the band on Facebook and on Instagram for news, tour dates and so on, keeping the fires of Black Metal burning bright until the very end. Because you know, as the band itself stated, everything will turn to dust someday.

Best moments of the album: Return…, The Golden Calf, The Eve and The Tyranny Of I.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2023 Listenable Records

Track listing
1. Dying In The Mud 5:08
2. Return… 4:52
3. The True Belief 4:06
4. The Golden Calf 6:13
5. Monologue 3:31
6. The Eve 5:52
7. Into Oblivion 3:58
8. The Tyranny Of I 5:42
9. Face Of Despair 4:20
10. The Wrong God 4:48
11. Martyr 6:55

Band members
Samca – vocals
PVIII – guitars
Raven Dust – guitars
SXIII – bass
J – drums