Review by Greg on May 21, 2025.

Finally pointing my radar once again towards the Balkan area, breeding ground for killer bands, and this time I'm heading to Croatia, where thrash act Krematorium is ready to release their first effort under the wing of Witches Brew... ten full years after their debut Body Bags first hit the shelves.

Now, such a long gap is bound to lead to changes, and it couldn't be otherwise with three new members out of five – but while the band's roots were in unimpressive thrash, this brand-new Sinister Seduction advertises a stronger influence from traditional heavy metal, and I was honestly surprised to check out how much it holds true, and how well the dudes blend the two ingredients. For sure, one can pick up an inspiration or two across the songs – for example, I'd clearly see the intro melody of 'Go Getter' fit on a Judas Priest album, and it's hard not to think of Artillery's latest endeavours here and there, or spot a sprinkle of Anthrax-sounding refrains in 'D.F.T.E.' or 'Manhunt' – but Krematorium sure as hell don't sound like any of those. I even dare say, their way of keeping the pedal firmly on full throttle, while also dropping those riffs so markedly inspired by classic heavy, if compared to your average thrash band, is not something you see every day.

So, also in light of the sleazy reimagining of the Spectrum of Death artwork, can you get more '80s than this? Well, you can, actually: the production is disappointingly modern, but fortunately not sterile, and vocalist Domagoj Fišeković is a far cry from the primarily charismatic, yet also talented, frontmen of the era like, say, Thorsten Bergmann, Flemming Rönsdorf, or Joey Belladonna. The guy hasn't got quite the same range, but puts all he's got into his performance, like a modern version of Nasty Ronnie (some falsetto shrieks sure help), and he's not required to carry the songs on his own anyway. He's one of the two original members, but comparing the vocals in the two LPs there's absolutely no way one could guess it.

At any rate, here comes the time for recommendations, and luckily I didn't need to put much effort into hunting Sinister Seduction's best track. 'Stonehearst Asylum' starts the dance, and it has the potential to immediately obliterate the competition and set an unreachable bar with its seemingly unstoppable fury, at least until stumbling a bit in the middle with a slightly meandering bridge and a totally underwhelming (dare I say even out of sync with the music?) solo – not least since the leadwork is generally way more competent and shreddy, showcased already from the following 'Moonshine Rider'. Nevertheless, it still contains my favourite moment of the album, that is, the excellent pre-chorus riff, redefining the meaning of 'breakneck', and I can't think of many more apt ways to kickstart an album like this. I also liked the relentless 'Scream 'n' Shout' and the notable post-chorus in 'Reign Of Terror', but the eight songs are all awfully consistent, traditional-flavoured blasts from the past. Even the last song 'Blackened Sky' rejects the overplayed idea of the wannabe-epic closer by presenting another short, explosive slab of thrashy goodness. Single-mindedness isn't an issue in my book when a band is so focused and doesn't overstay its welcome. Naturally, an '80s aspect lacking is the same immediacy and memorability of the old dogs, which is a common issue in 2025, but it's even more tangible when you mix two genres thriving on those exact qualities. Not that basic, catchy lines are absent, but they don't possess that same unique flair that would render them immortal, so to speak.

But really, Sinister Seduction is a bonafide work of passion more than anything, in the best possible meaning. Thinking about it, I'd say it embodies perfectly what I refer to when I talk about 'passion'. Not that, dunno, Alcest or Sunn O))) don't put it into their music, but there's something about this thrash/heavy hybrid that simply screams fun, beers, and sweaty rehearsals in the bassist's garage. It's also backed up by some killer tunes here and there. What's not to like?

Rating: 8 out of 10

Review by Jeger on May 23, 2025.

A Warlord… A Hero! He has emerged from the hallowed Halls of Myth and onto the field of battle. With bravery unmatched will he conquer his foes within this war-torn and mysterious realm - a place so far from here - so far away from the shattered lives we know. Just needs a music score… Well, France's Eminentia Tenebris have got something quite special in store for us all - a synergy of melodic and atmospheric Black Metal to be exact: traditional in some respects and groundbreaking in others, but altogether breathtaking. Sacramentum meets Windir here upon freshly broken soil. On July 4, Eminentia Tenebris will unveil Whispers Of The Undying via Antiq.

Galloping along to the rhythm of war drums upon his mighty steed is our Hero. Arms raised to the azure in awe of the atmosphere; bellowing his hearty war cry; sending shivers up the spines of his soon-to-be-slain enemies. The opening track, "Forever Etched", sets a properly triumphant tone, as the duo cracks the heavens with magnificent riffs, powerful cadences and weighty yet fiendishly Demonic vocals. Synth and keyboard overlays radiate victoriously into the spellbinding atmosphere, and it's only the beginning…

I'm not sure I've ever heard anything like what I'm experiencing here. It's overwhelming to say the least. "The Great Betrayal" delivers a more balanced effect; lulling you into a mystified state. A little more spacious, a little easier in the rhythm department. The result is something a bit more malleable and easier to wrap your head around. But reality-shattering still as all phases vortex together into an epic crescendo towards the end. A softer approach to mixing and mastering would've produced a nice offset to the intensity of the music. Everything is LOUD! Glaring at surface level, and that appears to be the only faux-pa thus far. There's a lot lost in the mix, which creates a somewhat chaotic environment.

This is exactly why Black Metal is what it is: the most precious Dark Art and the proudest genre of Extreme Metal. Whispers Of The Undying whips the senses into a frenzy, making you feel alive; awakened from the drab of everyday living. Ah, taking a step back now… The intro to "Embers Of Glory" is like something fit for cinema, as it evokes images of proud Warriors chanting o'er a once writhing, but now a temped battleground. The tale coming to an end now. The adventure simmering down like the curse of age as it casts its aching spell upon our Hero. Soft acoustics and the gentle clatter of a tambourine to culminate the precursor to the end of it all.

Whispers Of The Undying closes with "Time's Cruel Reign". A time for self-reflection to prepare the Warlord for death. The end of it all soundtracked by yet another epic excursion into scarcely traversed BM territory. This combination of styles is simply brilliant. And as the sun sets upon this tale, so too does the moon rise into the crisp fateful night. Blessed silence soaking in following what was a harrowing quest indeed. Wow, what an experience. Feeling fat and happy after this one; satisfied from the inside out, like that feeling you get after watching a three-hour-long fantasy flick. Eminentia Tenebris - a duo of the utmost importance to the genre. They're not reinventing the wheel here; just breathing life anew into a couple of sub-genres of Black Metal that have grown a bit predictable as of late. So, mask up in your war paint. Take up your sword! You listen to Black Metal, so I know you've got one lying around somewhere. And raise it high in victory. Somewhat blemished, yet still a triumphant record. Entertaining to the max.

Rating: 8 out of 10