Review by Alex on December 4, 2019.

Imprecation has been on a rampage in 2019, having released their 2nd full length album Damnatio Ad Bestias while ex member Danny Hiller has been active in Oath of Cruelty's upcoming act of barbarity "Summary Execution at Dawn". Now as the year comes to a close Black Blood Invocation has joined forces with the Legendary Imprecation to fortify an already bleak underground kingdom. Each offers their hand in travesty for this split due out on Helter Skelter Records. Imprecation as always being the calculative beasts they are, lay their corrupt compost to the soil as a fertilizing agent for what is to sprout. 'A World Consumed in Fire' brings all that is Imprecation; damned gutturals, riffs to slash and a drumming to impale. Not as bassy as I would have liked but such a complaint is insignificant to the might of their tunes here. After the fumes have settled, 'Swine Full of Maggots' puts the doom to work, only as a precursor for the destructive blast beats and mid paced, keyboard-caped pounding. There's some level of drumming and riff technicality to keep things fresh on 'Emperor of Eternal Spirits' which is for me the best of the Imprecation side because it reminds me of their 90s work. Coming off the steam of Damnatio Ad Bestias I would not have expected less nor was I given.

Black Blood Invocation on the B side of things put into effect some of the best black/death metal hymns I have heard all year. Adding their decor to the desecrated medium they open proceedings with 'Congregation of Profane Ascension' that bleeds into 'Evocation of the Alla Xul' and it was with that track I could tell Black Blood Invocation were among the bands to keep abreast with. What they bring to the table here encourages restlessness; because they have merged Beherit and Profanatica with their own lawless ways, I could not be more thrilled about a full-length release to come from this band. I love the drum fills heard on 'The Burning Effigy of Moloch', the diverse vocals, the riffing the keyboard structures grooving slowly into the framework of the tunes and the overall presence they evoke in contrast yet conspiracy with the muscle of Imprecation. Favorite track off Black Blood Invocation's side, 'Atazoth Nexion', I won't spoil it for you, but you'll hear why once the needle hits that sector. Loud and with the bassy punch for longevity; it would be inexplicable for a full length not come from Black Blood Invocation. Both bands brought their A game to concoct this dosage of duress. Something of this nature would be better experienced on vinyl so there should be no second guessing about getting it if you can.

Rating: 8.4 out of 10

Review by Alex on September 12, 2019.

Been a supporter of Hungary's Tyrant Goatgaldrakona since finding out about their 2013 debut full length Horns in the Dark. That record aged beautifully, I could pit it against current remarkable albums, and it would emerge victorious. The presence Horns in the Dark creates is truly hostile, it’s a record you need to hear if warlike black/death metal is your tune. An EP followed 2 years later that aroused the same feeling Horns in the Dark did and that was about all I had heard from the 2 piece since. Four years later we get yet another short menacing EP titled Marquis of Evil. Two songs of more tyranny from the unit, utter darkness, violence and chaos smears the arena, another miasma of desolation is set to radiate from Hungarian shores through Blood Harvest Records on October 25th, 2019 this time through ‘Conspiracy with Marquis’ and ‘The Seventh Throne’. 

This is the same band I am familiar with that is now getting the recognition they deserve; these two tracks bring the fury Tyrant Goatgaldrakona is known for but also an air of doom encircles the recordings to smear the carnage of the assault. All that you know the band for is active; frenetic guitar work, woe-full death metal growls and blast beats knocking to the trumpet of tyranny. If this is a warm-up or a taste of full-length material soon to come, then arses be lit on fire, and dance to the glory of the unholy that awaits. And that artwork, oh my, excellently sums-up the omens to be heard. What a treat to have after such a long time; they have come quite a distance since their 2010 debut EP Sign off Moloch, and it’s a joy to know they are in league with Blood Harvest Records. Marquis of Evil will have to do until more tyranny comes along, but I can tell you this, it’s getting ever so hard to withstand my restlessness.  

It's good to know one of my favorite underground extreme metal bands are at work and are strengthening the still growing Hungarian metal environment. Tyrant Goatgaldrakona are for me among the front runners of Hungarian underground extremism though just being at the beginning of their climb. Don't pass-up Marquis of Evil get it on vinyl and what other available formats it's on.

Rating: 8 out of 10