Review by Vladimir on January 8, 2023.

If there is anything I could say about Poland for sure, it’s that it has a very rich black metal scene, especially within the underground. Today’s example, which makes this scene even richer, is the band Dimidium Mei from Bytom. The band was inactive from 2011 but managed to successfully return 10 years later with two new members, Cyanide on drums and Colossus on guitar. Together they mark the band’s comeback with their second full-length album Devil's Tales, released on September 9th 2021 via the label Mara Productions. Let’s take a look at this album and see what devilish tales are to be told.

You’ll come across a plenty of primitive and aggressive black metal riffs with a bit of black/thrash moments here and there in the vein of early Nifelheim, blast beats, mid-tempo and double-bass drumming, d-beat ('Confessionless') and thrash metal beats as well ('I', 'It's A Sin', 'From The Darkness Into Abyss'), and dry harsh singing vocals with added low pitched demonic back vocals. Tracks have a very simple and straightforward approach when it comes to songwriting and their overall execution is handled with such intensity and spirit of oldschool 90’s black metal. The highlight of this album would be its strong and aggressive riffs, especially on the songs such as 'It's A Sin', 'Unforgettable', 'Confessionless', 'From The Darkness Into Abyss' and 'Funeral Night', with a solid sound production that doesn’t make the guitars and drums sound too thin. My only issue that I have with this album is the vocals, which sound a bit too dry and just aren’t loud enough for my taste. Don’t get me wrong, the vocal style is good and there is nothing wrong with it, the main problem is just that it could have been a little bit louder and better handled in the album’s mix and master without sounding as dry or thin, especially during moments when low pitched demonic vocals appear and completely bury the harsh singing. Overall, it’s just a minor issue that doesn’t ruin the album as a whole, and it’s definitely something that you can overlook without paying much attention.

To be honest, Devil's Tales doesn’t offer much, but it still gives plenty to enjoy, especially if you’re just a hardcore fan of oldschool 90’s black metal that isn’t on the lookout for anything stellar or groundbreaking. Dimidium Mei has made a very good comeback with their second full-length album and will hopefully uphold this strength for many more releases to come. If you’re a simple man looking for some black metal that you can enjoy, check out Dimidium Mei’s second album Devil’s Tales, I am sure you will find something to suit your taste.

Rating: 7.7 out of 10