Review by Alex on November 11, 2020.

Romanian "Ice Metal" band Persekutor has released their debut full length album Permanent Winter that does a great job of merging black metal with punk and heavy metal. This is one of the more memorable releases within the sub genre that utilizes the punk metal essence in their musical temple to satisfactory effect while adding other facets of other genres.

I'm not familiar with many Romanian metal bands, and the few I know are secrets I keep close so there will be no telling here. However; at least I've introduced you to Persekutor, that I know you will treasure once you've had a listen of Permanent Winter. This will keep you "up all night"; these guys can play a tune with some good bang and they also have some cool lyrics going in the tunes. Yea according to them "it's just rock n' roll" so don't get your panties in a twist.

Permanent Winter came at the right time, just when I was looking for some punk fused heavy metal that didn't sound dated, I found Persekutor. Was sceptical at first given the wave of bands coming out with new wave metal and what not but it was their music video that was shot for the single 'Black Death Punk Skins' that was confirmation of something I might be interested in. And after countless spins I honestly say that Permanent Winter is one of the best heavy/black/punk metal albums of 2020.

All the songs are great, and they only get better with each new playthrough of the album. 'Babylon of the Snows' is perhaps the weakest song on the album but even that has its moments; but following that the lads really start to show out big time with 'Can You Feel the Frost of Dawn' and 'Winter's Meat'. It's not just your average picking and beat pacing, these guys know how to write some good tunes. They've got the ear for this kind of thing especially when you take a listen at how well they convert the basic structure of 'Can You Feel the Frost Of Dawn' into something really telling of their efforts. It's here the band stands out, each song seems to speak its own tongue, you'll never feel like it's static on repeat. Also they really know how to use the guitars and melody to their advantage especially on my favorites off Permanent Winter being 'Chained To the Tundra' (that drags the heavy metal down to some rocking mid-tempo), 'Black Death Punk Skins' (that features the catchiest rhythm and verses) and 'Arctic Cross' (that gives off some real old school doom metal vibes).

Persekutor is just an amazing band I tell you, their solos are sweet all the while fucking mean, their black metal undertone merged with the spiky punk metal fist pumps on the faster tracks and the traditional heavy metal song structures they got pinned down under their stalagmite frozen lyrics just makes for an even more enjoyable listen. Just a great record with an impending and intimidating sense of danger lingering on every note. This is what you want from a band claiming to play heavy/black/punk metal. Great riffs, solos, fantastic vocals and overall memorable tunes you and the guys can get wasted to. This is one 'Ice War' you won't forget anytime soon, it'll freeze your nuts dead cold.

Rating: 8.3 out of 10

Review by Felix on January 2, 2021.

Once “We sold our soul to rock’n’roll” was a kind of rebellious slogan. Today one can only laugh about that. Possession, the Satan worshippers from Belgium, therefore have nothing to do with such child's play. Here it's simply "We sold our souls to the devil". Admittedly, that's not written anywhere on the gatefold album or the inserted lyric sheet. But firstly, the lyrics sheet ends with “A.M.S.G.”, the initial letters of the (free) Latin translation of the aforementioned slogan. And secondly, much better - you hear the heartfelt antipathy towards the values of the other side from every single note. Because Exorkizein doesn't shy away from the sound picture that you know from all other releases of this squad. As a result, the music here is dark, infernal and barbaric in places. Raw but controlled violence processes simple melodies into ominous beasts. The vocals, compared to the guitars, take a back seat, but especially the long-drawn screams give the music an additional hellish sound. Indeed, I can guarantee that the album does not lack screams of agony.

Exorkizein is not the most brutal release in Possession’s discography. Naturally, it does not lack violence, evil or hostility. But subjectively, it seems to me that some of the EPs and singles have five or ten percent more of the devil's genes in them. For example, 'In Vain' rolls through the flaming pits of hell in a devastating but relatively predictable way, before it eventually sets in for total destruction via a change of pace. I know I'm only talking about relatively puny details, so the very unspectacular ending of the last song also bothers me a little. But Possession have always had an excellent basic framework and a fascinating vision of the sound of their songs, and so when listening, one concentrates on the last nuances that decide whether a record is almost perfect or "just very good". But to put it bluntly: anyone who gets access to Possession via Exorkizein will not miss anything in terms of viciousness and will congratulate themselves on buying this powerful and down-rolling spawn of hell.

In the end, it might be a freak of nature that Exorkizein is possibly a bit less vehement than other discs by the band, because there is no good reason for it. It probably needs no mention that this album still has nothing whatsoever to do with a commercially viable approach. It provides pure darkness and does not derive an inch from the targeted path. Yes, the somersaulting insanity and the awe-inspiring dimension that later songs like 'Stabat Mater' make so excellent, does not show up here, although 'Infestation – Manifestation – Possession' comes near to these larger-than-life, no, larger-than-death compositions. However, what the listener gets is an authentic work with blazing (bass) guitars and comparatively simple yet efficient drumming. Possession do not integrate breaks over breaks, but they know how to emphasize their guitar lines extremely effectively. They work with repetition as a stylistic device, but only to a certain extent. The songs never get boring. By contrast, they become increasingly threatening due to the repetitive structure, which is particularly good to observe in 'Sacerdotium'. Only the few sacral sequences on the album are negligible (but most likely part of the concept).

The bulldozing sound of the album sets the right frame for the diabolic mission of Possession. There is nothing to grumble in terms of the mix, every tone reflects the anti-religious mentality of the group. In conclusion, Exorkizein is a very good, but not outstanding work – at least not outstanding in the internal competition with the band’s further releases. However, the band has proven with every new output that it is an enormous force to be reckoned with. Exorkizein marks no exception and was thus a good choice - please excuse this personal note at the end - for the 1,500th review.

Rating: 7.9 out of 10