Austria’s ASPHAGOR return with their fourth full-length release. A band that is unhurried to create their own unique extreme art, Pyrogenesis has another five-year wait between albums.
The sense of impending inevitability is best expressed on the instrumental opener ‘’Ex Cathedra’’ a track that highlights the band’s excellent musicianship and prepares you for the blackened onslaught that is ‘’ Nine Moons’’ and ‘’ The Mizaru Doctrine’’.
The Tyrolean black metal collective is adept at its craft which is taking pure nineties’ second wave of black metal, deathenizing it and adding touches of dissonance ( and cracking solos) to create its own brand of mayhem.
Pyrogenesis is an album that does not flinch from its own brutal presentation, the moments of atmosphere offer little respite, and some of the riffs are so razor sharp from guitarists Hybreos and M.
Zanesco that they add that touch of speed metal to add to the authenticity of such a heavy record.
‘’Pavor Nocturnus intor’’ paves the way for a bludgeoning mid-tempo assault that is openly hostile, a warlike in its attack ‘’ The Architect’’ continues with its crescendo arrangement and some great percussive work, its bridge of guitar melody is seductive and a mere interlude in the chaos that represents the suitably extreme vocals of Morgoth ( who also supplied the cover art).
‘Scales Of Retribution’’ tips the scales back towards a more death metal style, and at an hour’s length, it is a journey that is surprisingly adept at keeping the listener invested in its sheer sense of commitment and attention to detail.
Pyrogenesis is an album that stretches the boundaries of black metal whilst staying true to them and their own identity, demanding and utterly uncompromising.
ASPHAGOR: Facebook
Release Year: 2023
Label: MDD Records
Category: Album
Country: Austria
Reviewed by Sparky
