Review by Carl on December 5, 2021.

From the first notes it is made clear here we're not in for some sensitive Kenny G alike shit, but a harsh dose of black thrashing, death-flecked underground metal, straight out of the dark lands of Finland. If you have any affinity for the style, nothing on this album is going to surprise you in any way, but it's a sweet blast of frenzied insanity for sure.

The first band I thought of listening to this album was Bestial Mockery. The growling cavernous vocals, simple grinding riffs and speedy percussive assault in combination with songs brimming with punk fueled energy is an undeniable common feature of both bands, but other like-minded bands like Nunslaughter, old Sarcofago and fellow Finnish terror squad Violent Hammer aren't that far away either. Just like these bands, Evil Angel combine early Sodom-like riffing with jackhammering drums and a raw and hoarse vocal delivery. They don't waste any time in kicking the point home, as the band speed through their songs with gusto, only loosening on the accelerator for short breaks in between the raging insanity. The only exception is 'Crawling From The Grave', which focuses for the most part on a mid-tempo stomp, conjuring up the spirit of the slower numbers of old Bathory, providing a cool change of pace. For the biggest part, Evil Angel plow through their material with a high-octane energy that had me thinking of the early releases of Brazilian bands from the 80's and early 90's such as Vulcano, Expulser and earliest Sepultura. Wrapped in a raw but clear production, this album ticks all the boxes you'd want from an act in the style.

Musically there is nothing you haven't heard before, but the unhinged energy, punishing delivery and raw power make it a riveting listen nonetheless, and let's face it, anyone into this sort of music just can't get enough of bands like this, and that includes me.

It's like Liberace said: too much of a good thing is wonderful. Especially if it's black/thrash metal.

Rating: 8 out of 10