Review by Jeger on March 15, 2026.

Black Metal is the exploration of chaos and hatred, of darkness and of our innermost humanity. And while the masses scramble to grab their copy of the new Blackbraid EP, over in Belgium there stalks a new terror in the form of Erbeet Azhak - a solo venture masterminded by one CVB (Aerdryk, Cult of Erinyes) whose vision for BM is one that jives with the above-mentioned realms of exploration. True Black Metal that has been created with no material purpose other than to spread evil.

Black Metal can also be considered as a means toward total transcendence and enlightenment through agony; a soundtrack to your own transformation or deterioration, whichever path you happen to find yourself treading. For Erbeet Azhak, the realization of genre-defining Black Metal appears to be the modus operandi - essentially functional - beholden to no man or group of men, only albums like their debut LP, "Only The Vile Will Remain", that spit in the face of conformity but also of radicalism. Somewhere tucked away between the two is where you'll find it in all of its true BM reverence. True but also not of the basement variety. Within "Only The Vile Will Remain", you'll discover "The Wings of Liberation" in all of its Sargeist-reveling magnificence and "Lecherous Angels" - a highly aggressive, early Watain-heralding cut. These tracks are light years apart from one another in regard to style yet they commingle nicely together within the scape of the album's established essence.

The genre is thirsty for albums like "Only The Vile Will Remain"; Black Metal records that don't merely homage the Second Wave by being nothing more than cookie-cutter variety throwbacks, but instead a proper representative entity that casts Black Metal in a genuine light with the titular track to ease you into a still, steaming hot compositional bath. Just soaking up every rich, martially rhythmic passage, every divine melody and basking in the trueness of it all. The quintessential BM experience? You could sum it up that way and few would argue. Nothing fancy, just the beautiful controlled chaos of expertly executed Black Metal.

If you get it, you get it. So many Artists/Collectives aim for this and never get it right, because it is not something that is learned. It is not something that is forced or rushed. A man's understanding of Black Metal is a natural occurrence that is developed organically and is realized once he listens to BM for the first time and feels like he has found his home. And "Only The Vile Will Remain" is the album for such a divine reckoning. Take notes, kids, because this is true Black Metal through and through.

Rating: 9.5 out of 10