Review by Adam M on April 22, 2015.

Strategem is a fiery inferno of power and chaos while it lasts. And it certainly doesn’t last long, so you should soak in the heaviness while it lasts. Fulgora have presented excellent song-writing and riffs that have massive amounts of appealing dissonance in equal measures.

All tracks are tight, focused and a joy to listen to. There is certainly the correct type of music for a quick head-banging fix. The tunes work very well for this mood. The band features members of Pig Destroyer and Misery Index amongst others and you can feel the influences in every huge riff. The grind, death metal and hardcore all take equal measures here and though none of them ever completely sticks out, the band’s attitude suits the styles present at all times. The track Crutch is a favorite of mine from the album that is so punishing that it’s almost groovy. Certainly one of the better tracks I’ve heard from this year thus far. The remainder of the tracks are no slouches either, featuring a nice mix of straight-out aggression and breakdowns. There is the issue of short length with this album and even though it has some grind elements, things end a little too fast.

Hopefully this is only a warm-up for someone more in the future. The band has the right degree of harsh atmosphere mixed with tight song-craft, so it’s only natural that bigger and better things should arise from this album. Fulgora are already equipped with the correct punishing sound for an aggressive mood. This album is thoroughly exciting and engaging, but only leaves the listener wanting more. Still the suffocating quality of Fulgora makes Strategem the perfect soundtrack for all your head-banging needs.

Rating: 8 out of 10