As much as the continuing appeal of extreme metal depends on innovation, and the cross-pollination brought by an endless array of outside influences and new sounds, there is also a need for continuous reinforcement of the central pillars of the sound, to ensure that the genre is not so hollowed out in its never-ending quest for novelty that it collapses in on itself, extinct.

Quite apart from that, many of us are rather attached to the tropes that caught our attention and stimulated our interest in the first place, hence the abiding popularity of newer bands that continue to emulate the work of the masters, be they the behemoths of Iron Maiden, Slayer or Black Sabbath, or the more underground, but no less important heroes such as Celtic Frost, Possessed or Mercyful Fate. Black metal is no less prone than any other form of metal when it comes to venerating what has come before, and that veneration tends to focus on the harsher and more bestial end of the spectrum, prioritising raw production values, and a fervent devotion to black metal as an expression of serious satanic art.

This is exactly the niche that RUACH RAAH occupy, and Misanthropic Wolfgang, the Portuguese band's third full length in a decade long career takes its cues straight from Darkthrone's holy trinity of mid-90s necro masterpieces, as well as a raft of other underground luminaries, most obviously Beherit, Mutiilation, and Ildjarn. Exactly as the band no doubt intended, there is absolutely nothing sophisticated about this album; it is simply a raw blast of filthy noise, oblivious to any music that may have been released since Transilvanian Hunger. Thankfully though, RUACH RAAH don't let their predilection for turning the treble up to 11 obscure the songs themselves, and underneath the scratchy noise and screeching vocals, there is a solid set of powerful tracks that will satisfy anyone that likes their black metal riff-based, and with a hefty side order of d-beat groove. The clattering drums deliver a surprising amount of variety given the band's intentionally monochromatic sonics, and the organic sound and drum patterns are a great antidote to the clicky and monotonous rhythm tracks that are all too prevalent in modern extreme metal.

RUACH RAAH are at their best on tracks such as the fantastic 'Bones Return To Soil', where they allow their ferocious attack to careen almost out of control, the guitars and rhythm section just about holding things together as their vocalist vomits up yet another internal organ to offer as a tribute to Satan, their master and inspiration. Misanthropic Wolfgang is not remotely innovative, and it's not going to change black metal, but it is nevertheless a welcome reminder of the potency of a sound that can still thrill when it's done with the conviction that RUACH RAAH bring to it.

RUACH RAAH's highly anticipated third album Misanthropic Wolfgang will be releases by Signal Rex on June 30th 2021, on vinyl LP and cassette tape formats.

MORE INFO AND PRE-ORDERS:

https://www.facebook.com/RuachRaah
https://ruachraah.bandcamp.com/
https://signalrex.com
https://www.facebook.com/signalrec/
https://signalrex.bandcamp.com/