Review by Felix on June 20, 2026.

Four years after their third full-length, Sidious return with "Malefic Necropolis". Its 35-minute runtime indicates the first significant change. The band, blessed with a stable line-up, has shortened its tracks. While the predecessor featured seven songs across 47 minutes, we now get the usual seven Sidious tracks plus two intermezzos, 'Inversion And Collapse' and 'Grave'. They are not a crucial factor in the success of the album, and, considering the fact that the opener already has its own integrated intro, this may be a bit too much of a good thing. However, once we focus on the regular songs, it becomes obvious that the British quartet has concentrated on quality rather than quantity. The new compactness benefits the material greatly. This time, Sidious deliver high-class black metal from beginning to end. By contrast, 'Blackest Insurrection' struggled more and more as the album progressed. Especially the stormy and strict 'Sanguineous Art', appearing in the eighth position, proves that this minor weakness does not reoccur here.

Sidious do not follow the symphonic path of Cradle Of Filth or Hecate Enthroned, and they sound more organic than bands such as Frosten or Hellvelyn. Their pure, mid-harsh black metal is built on compelling song structures that strike the right balance. They cannot be accused of tedious adherence to conventions, but they also do not fall victim to inappropriate dogmas of progression. This means there are plenty of tempo changes and variations, yet these elements never make the songs difficult to follow. Instead, they enrich them. On the other hand, the lead vocalist does not seem interested in experiments. His nagging and screaming delivery conveys the genre-typical wickedness and successfully intensifies the atmosphere of the tracks.

Highlights? Naturally, there are some outstanding songs. 'Crows Atop The Gallows' is, for someone like me who loves fast rhythms, the biggest surprise because it does not rely on another high-speed eruption. Nevertheless, it is a great piece with enormous inner strength, based on the exceptionally strong guitar work in the verses and the effective use of the double bass. The latter appears many times, for example, in 'Cosmossuary'. Either way, Sidious leave no doubt that they can write expressive songs without venturing into the territory of musical ecstasy and insanity. Nevertheless, it is naturally also a good thing when they charge forward at full power. As soon as the cloudy intro spreads its first vibes of despair and hopelessness, the thundering real opener, 'Shears Of Atropos', explodes. Just to show off a little, Atropos is the eldest of the three Fates in Greek mythology. Her task is to cut the thread of human life, thereby sealing one's fate—and the song by Sidious works as a perfect soundtrack for her fatal actions. 'Rotborn Terror' continues the concept of the opener. Straightforward and operating at high revs, it delivers another very well-designed black metal attack.

The non-musical elements of "Malefic Necropolis" are every bit as good as the material itself. The artwork looks great (especially the head of the figure in the middle), the opulent booklet makes you forget the sparse design of 'Blackest Insurrection', and the professional yet seemingly spontaneous production provides a more or less flawless match for the band's style. Therefore, it is no exaggeration to say that Sidious have given the British black metal scene another album it can be proud of. The band has taken the next step by bundling its strengths, and the internal quality control system has clearly worked. I guess we cannot expect much more from an album that offers nothing but true—or maybe even "trve"—black metal. But if that is not the case, I would like to be informed. Until then, "Malefic Necropolis" is not a perfect album, but it is a very good and absolutely recommendable full-length.

Rating: 8.4 out of 10