Review by Jeger on November 8, 2024.

Prepare to evoke His presence - The Desolate One - Satan himself: lord of the Earth, and to submit yourself unto the spiraling spiritual madness of His rage and of His ecstasy. Norway’s Shaarimoth have returned! And it was upon Hallows Eve that they awakened from their 12-year-long bestial slumber, bearing infernal gifts from the diabolical macrocosm known as the Norwegian death metal underground. On October 31, as Warlocks and Witches cast their necromancies by firelight; invoking His humble minions to the majesty of ritual, and as the foot of His throne writhed orgiastically with condemned spirits awaiting summoning’s call, Shaarimoth released Devildom via WTC Productions. 

An occult-themed ode to Him is Devildom - a ritualistic experience that details one’s transcendence through rebellion into the Satanic darkness to which we all shall return. Only the darkness and existential dread of Satan is real! And with Devildom, there is no Lightbringer to illuminate the passageway, divinity out of reach as we traverse these black Aeonic pathways into the realm of diabolically evolutionary death metal. 

The only band I feel comfortable comparing Shaarimoth to is France’s Necrowretch. You could tie some of this material to Morbid Angel if you try hard enough, but Devildom is so much more powerful than anything Morbid has ever released. Morbid Angel’s idea of what constitutes Satanic music is rather remedial or even childish compared to this album. There are compositional similarities here and there, but the idea behind Devildom is to bring The Devil into our presence so that we can experience firsthand His energy - a diabolical template for his unyielding power. Something beyond what even some of the most occult-driven black metal bands are capable of. Salutations and formulas linked to Him and set to death metal of a most primitive consort. Ghastly bellows, Daemonic growls, and booming proclamations resonate into the void of every album cut’s cold-chasmic atmosphere. Primal rhythms to spark the blackest flame and complex progressions to scramble the senses, leaving you bewildered and helpless before Him. 'Blood Covenant' - a brilliant alternation between “Covenant” era Morbid Angel-worshipping passages and martial, almost danceable Marduk-like rhythms; a seductive invitation, a ritualistic incantation to echo through the abyss… 

Following an intoxicating interlude in 'Into Everlasting Darkness', 'The Voiceless Call' unfolds to blackened tremolos that domino into hefty grooves and plowing grinds - jaw-dropping harmonious passages and entrancing melodic sequences to cast you into the thralls of ritual once more. An epic! The finest example of this band’s brilliant multifaceted vision of true Satanic death metal: chaotic yet refined and melodic yet brutal, but arranged systematically as to provide an experience that one would want to take in over and over again. A truly exhaustive ride, but in a good way is Devildom. A stellar representation of diabolism at its apex and unleashed during this, darkest age of humanity. 

Devildom is for the courageous soul who fears not the Left Hand Path and where it leads. Not your cartoonish Deicide bullshit, but music for the true believer, the worthy and the bold. Fear thee not the ways of Satan! You may just be astonished… Shaarimoth - more than just a death metal band - harbingers of His message; an assurance of strength and passion unbridled: lustful, enthralling, and irresistible.

Rating: 9 out of 10