129th part of the short reviews.
AGATUS – The Eternalist
Year: 2016
Label: Hells Headbangers Records
Rating: 8,4 / 10
AGATUS is the project of the Dorian brothers, the founders of ZEMIAL. I remember well that 10 years ago "The Eternalist" received excellent reviews, but no one needed it because of its unconventionality. At that time, the world had not yet had enough of "pure" genre forms, and “The Eternalist” was already far ahead (or behind, depending on how you look at it). It can be roughly described as Greek pre-pre-pre-Black Metal. That is, it's all what we know from the works of the same ZEMIAL, VARATHRON, ROTTING CHRIST, NECROMANTIA and so on, but in the form of dark Heavy Metal with a traditional Greek warm sound and partly clean vocals. This is a very diverse, deep and beautiful album, which can easily be called Music with a capital "M". Maybe it's finally time for ”The Eternalist" to become popular.
MAYHEM – Liturgy of Death
Year: 2026
Label: Century Media Records
Rating: 5,7 / 10
When I listened to "Liturgy of Death" for the first time, I was busy with something, so I didn't immediately understand what exactly I was listening to. And throughout most of the album, I thought that some second-rate MAYHEM followers were playing in my speakers. I still have this opinion now. If "Daemon" was the long-awaited return of the Norwegians to their ”root" sound without any frills, then "Liturgy...“ is also moving in this direction, periodically adding elements of the pure negative energy of the brilliant ”Ordo ad Chao". But all this is two, three times less inspired. Somewhere along the way “Liturgy...” lost the justified swagger, grandeur, and depth that were characteristic of "Daemon". Even the sound deteriorated, although the band used Necromorbus Studio services again. Finally, I did not find any interesting tracks here at all. On this album, MAYHEM sound like a not-too-talented parody of themselves and practice a standard routine. For a band that has always prided itself on offering something bold and fresh on every album, it's just a shame.
DARKTHRONE – Pre-Historic Metal
Year: 2026
Label: Peaceville Records
Rating: 5,5 / 10
The situation is a little better with the other old Norwegians, as I haven't expected anything from them for a long time, so they don't disappoint. DAKTHRONE is like that dog that eats its own shit (which in the beginning was the shit of other dogs) over and over again. Another set of quoted riffs and references to ancient records, the most lazy and stupid cover, toilet sound (this time it is not at all “necrotic" and simply bad). It's just like we've been used to for the last 3-4 albums. You can safely put a sticker on new DARKTHRONE records that says “no effort was made during the creation of this album.” Listening to ”Pre-Historic Metal" is not entirely boring in places, but there is no point in wasting time on it. As there is nothing "prehistoric" or true here. There are hundreds of bands in the world that not only play old-school metal, but live it, and DAKTHRONE is very far from them. Who is this posturing designed for? For fans of Wackencore, I guess.
BURNING WINDS – Hell and Damnation
Year: 2025
Label: Werewolf Records
Rating: 7 / 10
If we are talking about prehistoric metal, then here, for example, is an album by the old project BURNING WINDS , recorded in the 2020s, but it's as dirty, ancient and barbaric as DARKTHRONE has been unable to afford for more than 30 years. The project is American, so there is only blunt and unmitigated blasphemy. NecroDan (the only member of BURNING WINDS) can't play for shit, but that doesn't stop him from producing very consistent and catchy mid-tempo tracks a la HAVOHEJ, BEHERIT, GOATLORD. Very evil (anti)music, not for neophytes and Wackencore audience.
DEMON SPELL – Blessed Be the Dark
Year: 2026
Label: Dying Victims Productions
Rating: 8 / 10
The outstanding Italian followers of MERCYFUL FATE / KING DIAMOND did not keep us waiting long for their debut album. Almost everything I wrote about in the review of their debut EPalso can be said about the album, but on "Blessed be the Dark" the guys moved forward a little in every component, and created even more authentic sound - just like it should be on the full-length record. Enjoy!
