Let the ritual begin to the sound of the old school fusion of Black and Death Metal by this demonic band from Chile.

Pure evil, hatred and darkness are about to take over the world through the bloodthirsty music by Chilean Black/Death Metal horde Porta Daemonium, who are releasing their debut full-length opus titled Serpent of Chaos, a devastating album comprised of eight cavernous compositions tailored for fans of Immolation, Incantation, Angel Corpse and many other renowned spawners of dark and apocalyptic Death Metal. And if you survive the 27 minutes of bestial growls, demonic riffs and two-fisted beats that envenom the entire album, you’ll be allowed to cross the gates of the netherworld and join this hellish band on their path to eternal damnation.

Hailing from the city of Santiago, the amazing capital of the Republic of Chile, Porta Daemonium started their mischievous career almost 20 years ago, more specifically in the year of 1998, when they were still called Porta Salomoniis. However, due to undisclosed reasons, the project took almost two decades to really take off, having released only a few rehearsal demos and promos through the years (most of them after changing their name in 2011 to Porta Daemonium) until their disfigured progeny Serpent of Chaos finally reached its ultimate form earlier this year. As already mentioned, Serpent of Chaos is a tribute to the true essence of Death Metal, a straightforward and extremely raw album that proves  to the unbelievers how powerful this obscure genre still sounds even after decades being almost unchanged, surviving to all new trends and transformations in music.

First originated in Pagan Europe as an invocation during rituals to summon Choronzon and to activate the eleven dark angels of the broken pentagram, Zazas Zazas Nasatanada Zazas (or “Open, Open, Gates of Hell Open” in English) is a hellish atmospheric intro perfect for the massacre that’s about to come, the ungodly Via Sinistra, where the obscurity of Black Metal and the characteristic deep growling of Death Metal are enhanced by its blackened lyrics (“Glory to the tunnels forgotten, A timeless trails Apofis / Where whisper in the dark. The voices on the other side. / In the realms of Lilith, Under the Tree of Knowledge / Celebrating Via Sinistra.”), not to mention all the destruction generated by drummer Ocultavio while at the same time guitarist Ignigarak fires forbidden riffs from his blasphemous instrument.

After that brutal start, lead singer Avitchi and his horde of chaos bring forth another bestial composition named The Blood of the Dark Madness, a song not recommended for the lighthearted. Quite the contrary, it will definitely darken your thoughts and soul, giving you the chills if you’re a big fan of the early days of Cannibal Corpse and Morbid Angel. And their demonic onslaught goes on with more visceral barks by Avitchi penetrating our ears in To the Left of God, a truly heavy Death Metal chant with a potent Black Metal vibe led by the blast beast by Ocultavio; followed by A Las Primordiales Serpientes del Caos, the only song in Spanish and, in my opinion, the most awesome of all. Although I doubt you’ll be able to recognize any of the words almost vomited by Avitchi even if you speak fluent Spanish, you can still enjoy the amazing job done by Ignigarak with his flammable guitar riffs and solos, as well as the complete anarchy blasted by the whole band to conclude this vile chant.

Bassist Necroterror and drummer Ocultavio craft a Doom Metal ambience that ignites the most obscure of all songs, the slower and more rhythmic The Apep’s Chaotic Dreams, an interesting variation of the band’s traditional havoc perfect for banging your head nonstop during their live performances, whereas the title-track Porta Daemonium lives up to the tradition of evil and putrid Death Metal, in special its wicked lyrics (“Practice the black tradition, Of walking reigning between the Qliphoths / And leave a key for us, to cross to another side / We will Open the portals to the unknown / In the name of the eleven Ancient Ones”). Moreover, the low-tuned guttural vocals, the drums at the speed of light and the epicness added to its second half help elevate it to one of the top moments of the album without a shadow of a doubt. The sharper guitar lines and cleaner sonority found in the last track of Serpent of Chaos, Under the Sigils of the Fallen Angels, turn it into perhaps the most Black Metal of all, an infernal composition with highlights to the excellent guitar solos by Ignigarak, and when it’s over you’ll be at long last fully consumed by darkness.

Opening the gates of hell and unleashing the Stygian music by Porta Daemonium upon humanity is easier than reciting a satanic mantra. All you have to do is like their Facebook page and purchase your copy of Serpent of Chaos at their BandCamp page. Let the ritual begin to the sound of the old school demonic fusion of Black and Death Metal by this excellent band from Chile, and let’s hope these talented musicians release many more brutal albums like Serpent of Chaos in the coming years for the delight of all fans of extreme music. Zazas Zazas Nasatanada Zazas!

Best moments of the album: The Blood of the Dark Madness, A Las Primordiales Serpientes del Caos and Porta Daemonium.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2016 Iron, Blood & Death Corporation

Track listing
1. Zazas Zazas Nasatanada Zazas 3:08
2. Via Sinistra 3:24
3. The Blood of the Dark Madness 3:28
4. To the Left of God 3:14
5. A Las Primordiales Serpientes del Caos 3:44
6. The Apep’s Chaotic Dreams 2:56
7. Porta Daemonium 4:20
8. Under the Sigils of the Fallen Angels 3:18

Band members
Avitchi – vocals
Ignigarak – guitars
Necroterror – bass
Ocultavio – drums