The promotional email for the sophomore effort from this Danish act (named after the Hebrew word for wanderer?) stated it was melodic black metal for ‘fans of Behemoth, Hate, Mgla, Belphegor, Anaal Nathrak’. Not sure I could have been lured in any harder if they had a six pack of IPA beer, Crunchie candy bars, and Playboys with Anna Nicole Smith.

But as usual, the FFO recommendation is a little fluff. Certainly, this is a form of well-done Black/Death metal with a little more lean into the death side, a la Behemoth, Hate, Belphegor, Throne, Keres, Blood of the Wolf. But Mgla and Anaal Nathrakh? nah ‘fraid not.

This is pretty solid. Nothing spectacular or overly impressive, but tight, vicious, and at times better than average, with a few tracks that stand out from the rest. Which is all pretty familiar black/death territory,  and a bit of a departure from most of the members’ other band, folk /Viking act Vanir.

Tracks like the opener “Minenwerfer”, moodier “Incantation of Hatred”, “Violent End”, and the 6-minute closer “Righteous Fury” got my blood pumping a little as they retell the Biblical tale of Cain and Abel with impressive energy and savagery. I just wish a few more of the songs had grasped me a little harder.

Other than those standout tracks, the rest of the album goes by with plenty of vitriol and fiery brimstone riffage as heard on “Scorched Tyranny”, “Omincide Manifest”, or “Heksenat”. They are merely enjoyable and listenable, and result in an album that, while solid, isn’t quite anything I’m craving or going back to.

[Visit the band's website]

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