Review by Vladimir on April 14, 2024.

Last year I was tasked to write an announcement for a new single that teased the release of Monoliths Of Wrath, the fifth full-length album by the German black/thrash metal band Lucifuge. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to check it out because it was one hell of a year that just kept spawning numerous awesome releases from all corners of the world. However, a year after its release, Lucifuge would announce its return once again, this time with the sixth full-length album Hexensabbat, with the release date of May 24th, 2024, once again published by Dying Victims Productions. I saw this as a good opportunity to redeem myself with all I’ve got, so I figured that it would be wise of me to take a look at Hexensabbat and see what devilish delights it has to offer. 

Relentless, blasphemous, barbaric and bewitching, those four words exactly describe how this album kicks off so strongly, without mercy and without hesitation. From the very first second, it is blackened thrashing and bashing in pure and raw German thrash metal fashion, ripping everything apart with wicked and heavy guitar riffs, banging drumming and harsh guttural vocals. As the album progresses, the riffs get heavier and more intense, and the drumming gets even crazier when fast double-bass drumming and blast beats come to play, wrecking everything apart and setting the whole world of fire. Along the way you are in for a nice thrill-ride, where you come to realize that there are nice moments that showcase something more than meets the eye. Those examples are the fourth track 'The Court Of The Profane' which incorporates a bit of heavy metal before jumping back into action with black-thrashing, alongside the Judas Priest style lead on the start of the fifth track 'Into Eternal Sleep'. The intense power and the unholy aggression of Hexensabbat guarantees that all those self-pleasuring witches will be bathing in goat sperm and priest’s blood, under the great demon’s footstep. It’s very clear that the album keeps that constant flow, but the more undeniable fact is that the material gets stronger and more engaging around the second half, showcasing more punk and rock ‘n roll driven moments that amp it up to 10. 

The songwriting on Hexensabbat is moderately dynamic with its tempo changes and simple yet effective ideas thrown in to rock it out even harder. Although the album relies heavily on one template that is used all-throughout, the stylistic consistency works pretty well in my opinion, keeping that even flow going from one song to another without you ever losing interest or shifting attention. I liked the fact that it always keeps you on edge for what is to come next, while still hungry for more power and violence in the music, and it certainly doesn’t fail to deliver all of that. Although for the most part it is instrumentally on the thrash and speed metal part, along with a couple of heavy metal moments, there were some moments where it went more towards the classic black metal direction like on the tracks 'They Come In Legions' and 'Cursed To Eternity'. My favourite thing about this album apart from the music is the grey cover art, done by Kerbcrawlerghost, who managed to convey exactly the kind of bewitching and blasphemous energy of Hexensabbat, with its style and depiction very reminiscent to conceptual artists such as Gustav Dore, Martin Van Maele and Felicien Rops. Just like before, the album production was handled by the band’s only member Equinox, who definitely knows his job well on the production side of things by giving us a kickass sound. Although I did feel like the vocals could have been a little more tweaked in the final mix, nevertheless it all sounds very solid. 

Like many people know, I am a sucker for very simple but powerful black/thrash metal albums who have a simple goal to crush, kill and destroy, and Hexensabbat does all of it. It’s an awesome album of its kind that certainly pleases the basic needs of oldschool maniacs, leaving you satisfied for a good ol’ headbanging journey without pretentiousness and without bullshit. If you are a fan of bands like Ketzer, Bewitcher and Barbarian, you should definitely check out Hexensabbat by Lucifuge. 

Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Review by Vladimir on April 14, 2024.

Last year I was tasked to write an announcement for a new single that teased the release of Monoliths Of Wrath, the fifth full-length album by the German black/thrash metal band Lucifuge. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to check it out because it was one hell of a year that just kept spawning numerous awesome releases from all corners of the world. However, a year after its release, Lucifuge would announce its return once again, this time with the sixth full-length album Hexensabbat, with the release date of May 24th, 2024, once again published by Dying Victims Productions. I saw this as a good opportunity to redeem myself with all I’ve got, so I figured that it would be wise of me to take a look at Hexensabbat and see what devilish delights it has to offer. 

Relentless, blasphemous, barbaric and bewitching, those four words exactly describe how this album kicks off so strongly, without mercy and without hesitation. From the very first second, it is blackened thrashing and bashing in pure and raw German thrash metal fashion, ripping everything apart with wicked and heavy guitar riffs, banging drumming and harsh guttural vocals. As the album progresses, the riffs get heavier and more intense, and the drumming gets even crazier when fast double-bass drumming and blast beats come to play, wrecking everything apart and setting the whole world of fire. Along the way you are in for a nice thrill-ride, where you come to realize that there are nice moments that showcase something more than meets the eye. Those examples are the fourth track 'The Court Of The Profane' which incorporates a bit of heavy metal before jumping back into action with black-thrashing, alongside the Judas Priest style lead on the start of the fifth track 'Into Eternal Sleep'. The intense power and the unholy aggression of Hexensabbat guarantees that all those self-pleasuring witches will be bathing in goat sperm and priest’s blood, under the great demon’s footstep. It’s very clear that the album keeps that constant flow, but the more undeniable fact is that the material gets stronger and more engaging around the second half, showcasing more punk and rock ‘n roll driven moments that amp it up to 10. 

The songwriting on Hexensabbat is moderately dynamic with its tempo changes and simple yet effective ideas thrown in to rock it out even harder. Although the album relies heavily on one template that is used all-throughout, the stylistic consistency works pretty well in my opinion, keeping that even flow going from one song to another without you ever losing interest or shifting attention. I liked the fact that it always keeps you on edge for what is to come next, while still hungry for more power and violence in the music, and it certainly doesn’t fail to deliver all of that. Although for the most part it is instrumentally on the thrash and speed metal part, along with a couple of heavy metal moments, there were some moments where it went more towards the classic black metal direction like on the tracks 'They Come In Legions' and 'Cursed To Eternity'. My favourite thing about this album apart from the music is the grey cover art, done by Kerbcrawlerghost, who managed to convey exactly the kind of bewitching and blasphemous energy of Hexensabbat, with its style and depiction very reminiscent to conceptual artists such as Gustav Dore, Martin Van Maele and Felicien Rops. Just like before, the album production was handled by the band’s only member Equinox, who definitely knows his job well on the production side of things by giving us a kickass sound. Although I did feel like the vocals could have been a little more tweaked in the final mix, nevertheless it all sounds very solid. 

Like many people know, I am a sucker for very simple but powerful black/thrash metal albums who have a simple goal to crush, kill and destroy, and Hexensabbat does all of it. It’s an awesome album of its kind that certainly pleases the basic needs of oldschool maniacs, leaving you satisfied for a good ol’ headbanging journey without pretentiousness and without bullshit. If you are a fan of bands like Ketzer, Bewitcher and Barbarian, you should definitely check out Hexensabbat by Lucifuge. 

Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Review by Alex on October 27, 2019.

Scimitar plays a folk driven brand of melodic death metal that would take some time adjusting to especially if you’re into the more traditional style of the genre. What makes it different is the vocalists' way of singing. He has the folky tone, but his pattern is more reminiscent to that of a cross between folk metal vocal patterns and that of a rap musician particularly on the second track ‘Knight’s Collapse’. It’s very much an odd combination that Scimitar have managed to make work on that instance, however it slowly dissipates to a more approachable form as the album progresses. Had I known this prior to hearing the music I probably would have stood clear of Shadows of Man, thus said, I’m happy I was uninformed because the music here and the significance of the themes behind it is fantastic. Shadows of Man is Scimitar’s 2nd full-length record following 2010’s Black Waters. As for being a melodic death/pagan metal band with some folk metal influences, they perform commendably when fusing the genres to create a memorable release.

Through their melodic soundscapes varying among marvel, strife, joy and unraveling beauty, Scimitar are able to keep the fundamentals of all the genres used in presenting themes that not only are merged well but has some relevance within the here and now. Their lyrics appear to deal primarily with the subjects of war and mankind's impact on nature (the way I interpret it); hence some of the song titles may give away the idea brought to the front of the music. Ranging among tales of battle to the collapse of nature through the modern age of accessibility and comfort, Scimitar's music is thoughtful and ventures beyond the trivial and meaningless to create an impacting record. In doing so, the band comprised of Clayton Basi (drums, vocals), Noel Anstey (guitars, vocals), Agnus Lennox (lead vocals, bass) and Jesse Turner (guitars, vocals) make sure to keep cohesion at the center of their songs.

Noticeable as Shadows of Man progresses the music becomes darker, a bit mysterious and ominous as though predicting some sort of large-scale downfall. 'Wandering at the Moon' a favorite on Shadows of Man presents the contemplation of man, his role on earth and the impact of his actions. Though most of whats covered on songs such as 'Knight's Collapse', 'To Cultivate With Spears' and 'Shadows of Man I Imperium' tell of battle and survival, the few instances of introspect and wander are the more appealing here. The instrumentation is solid and even produces a relaxing feel even on the more battle themed songs heard on the album. This has to do with the tuning of the guitars hence they’re not distorted in the slightest and may even resemble those used in folk metal. Rather than appearing harsh or dense their light tuning creates an air of placidity so you can kick your feet up and listen with ease. The guitar work is great and truly steals the spotlight with excellent performances on ‘Shadows of Man I Imperium’ and ‘Shadows of Man II Cataclysm’ while the drums do a good job of keeping up with the pace. In closing, the acoustic moments add a layer of serenity heard on ‘Mysterium, Tremendum et Fascinans’ then its curtain call.

Through Shadows of Man, Scimitar prove they are well above the mediocre standards of countless others and are clearly a wrecking force musically.

Rating: 8.2 out of 10

Review by Vladimir on April 14, 2024.

Last year I was tasked to write an announcement for a new single that teased the release of Monoliths Of Wrath, the fifth full-length album by the German black/thrash metal band Lucifuge. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to check it out because it was one hell of a year that just kept spawning numerous awesome releases from all corners of the world. However, a year after its release, Lucifuge would announce its return once again, this time with the sixth full-length album Hexensabbat, with the release date of May 24th, 2024, once again published by Dying Victims Productions. I saw this as a good opportunity to redeem myself with all I’ve got, so I figured that it would be wise of me to take a look at Hexensabbat and see what devilish delights it has to offer. 

Relentless, blasphemous, barbaric and bewitching, those four words exactly describe how this album kicks off so strongly, without mercy and without hesitation. From the very first second, it is blackened thrashing and bashing in pure and raw German thrash metal fashion, ripping everything apart with wicked and heavy guitar riffs, banging drumming and harsh guttural vocals. As the album progresses, the riffs get heavier and more intense, and the drumming gets even crazier when fast double-bass drumming and blast beats come to play, wrecking everything apart and setting the whole world of fire. Along the way you are in for a nice thrill-ride, where you come to realize that there are nice moments that showcase something more than meets the eye. Those examples are the fourth track 'The Court Of The Profane' which incorporates a bit of heavy metal before jumping back into action with black-thrashing, alongside the Judas Priest style lead on the start of the fifth track 'Into Eternal Sleep'. The intense power and the unholy aggression of Hexensabbat guarantees that all those self-pleasuring witches will be bathing in goat sperm and priest’s blood, under the great demon’s footstep. It’s very clear that the album keeps that constant flow, but the more undeniable fact is that the material gets stronger and more engaging around the second half, showcasing more punk and rock ‘n roll driven moments that amp it up to 10. 

The songwriting on Hexensabbat is moderately dynamic with its tempo changes and simple yet effective ideas thrown in to rock it out even harder. Although the album relies heavily on one template that is used all-throughout, the stylistic consistency works pretty well in my opinion, keeping that even flow going from one song to another without you ever losing interest or shifting attention. I liked the fact that it always keeps you on edge for what is to come next, while still hungry for more power and violence in the music, and it certainly doesn’t fail to deliver all of that. Although for the most part it is instrumentally on the thrash and speed metal part, along with a couple of heavy metal moments, there were some moments where it went more towards the classic black metal direction like on the tracks 'They Come In Legions' and 'Cursed To Eternity'. My favourite thing about this album apart from the music is the grey cover art, done by Kerbcrawlerghost, who managed to convey exactly the kind of bewitching and blasphemous energy of Hexensabbat, with its style and depiction very reminiscent to conceptual artists such as Gustav Dore, Martin Van Maele and Felicien Rops. Just like before, the album production was handled by the band’s only member Equinox, who definitely knows his job well on the production side of things by giving us a kickass sound. Although I did feel like the vocals could have been a little more tweaked in the final mix, nevertheless it all sounds very solid. 

Like many people know, I am a sucker for very simple but powerful black/thrash metal albums who have a simple goal to crush, kill and destroy, and Hexensabbat does all of it. It’s an awesome album of its kind that certainly pleases the basic needs of oldschool maniacs, leaving you satisfied for a good ol’ headbanging journey without pretentiousness and without bullshit. If you are a fan of bands like Ketzer, Bewitcher and Barbarian, you should definitely check out Hexensabbat by Lucifuge. 

Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Review by Alex on October 27, 2019.

Scimitar plays a folk driven brand of melodic death metal that would take some time adjusting to especially if you’re into the more traditional style of the genre. What makes it different is the vocalists' way of singing. He has the folky tone, but his pattern is more reminiscent to that of a cross between folk metal vocal patterns and that of a rap musician particularly on the second track ‘Knight’s Collapse’. It’s very much an odd combination that Scimitar have managed to make work on that instance, however it slowly dissipates to a more approachable form as the album progresses. Had I known this prior to hearing the music I probably would have stood clear of Shadows of Man, thus said, I’m happy I was uninformed because the music here and the significance of the themes behind it is fantastic. Shadows of Man is Scimitar’s 2nd full-length record following 2010’s Black Waters. As for being a melodic death/pagan metal band with some folk metal influences, they perform commendably when fusing the genres to create a memorable release.

Through their melodic soundscapes varying among marvel, strife, joy and unraveling beauty, Scimitar are able to keep the fundamentals of all the genres used in presenting themes that not only are merged well but has some relevance within the here and now. Their lyrics appear to deal primarily with the subjects of war and mankind's impact on nature (the way I interpret it); hence some of the song titles may give away the idea brought to the front of the music. Ranging among tales of battle to the collapse of nature through the modern age of accessibility and comfort, Scimitar's music is thoughtful and ventures beyond the trivial and meaningless to create an impacting record. In doing so, the band comprised of Clayton Basi (drums, vocals), Noel Anstey (guitars, vocals), Agnus Lennox (lead vocals, bass) and Jesse Turner (guitars, vocals) make sure to keep cohesion at the center of their songs.

Noticeable as Shadows of Man progresses the music becomes darker, a bit mysterious and ominous as though predicting some sort of large-scale downfall. 'Wandering at the Moon' a favorite on Shadows of Man presents the contemplation of man, his role on earth and the impact of his actions. Though most of whats covered on songs such as 'Knight's Collapse', 'To Cultivate With Spears' and 'Shadows of Man I Imperium' tell of battle and survival, the few instances of introspect and wander are the more appealing here. The instrumentation is solid and even produces a relaxing feel even on the more battle themed songs heard on the album. This has to do with the tuning of the guitars hence they’re not distorted in the slightest and may even resemble those used in folk metal. Rather than appearing harsh or dense their light tuning creates an air of placidity so you can kick your feet up and listen with ease. The guitar work is great and truly steals the spotlight with excellent performances on ‘Shadows of Man I Imperium’ and ‘Shadows of Man II Cataclysm’ while the drums do a good job of keeping up with the pace. In closing, the acoustic moments add a layer of serenity heard on ‘Mysterium, Tremendum et Fascinans’ then its curtain call.

Through Shadows of Man, Scimitar prove they are well above the mediocre standards of countless others and are clearly a wrecking force musically.

Rating: 8.2 out of 10