Despite the fact I have always found Shakespeare about as appealing as a holiday in Ethiopia, a misreading of this band name automatically drew word associations to a similarly titled play. This duo is based in Hamburg according to their website, but features the vocal talents of new Dark Funeral frontman Nachtgarm. They make rather a confusing boast of being a desired overlap for anyone “who is of the opinion that Abruptum are too sick, Shining (Swe) are way too disgusting-embarrassing, Satyricon too rocking and Celtic Frost too outmoded”. Okay, a little lost in translation but we get the gist.

This gets straight down to business with the proclamation, “the king is dead, long live the king”, hurtling at you like a missile launched to assassinate the leader. Straight away I’m thinking of Behemoth with that deathly assault and mix of high pitched gnarly rasps and deep, sinister grunts bellowed over a bed of drum blasts. Track two, ‘the Sun Of Days Gone By’ has a massive, rollicking groove in the vein of Satyricon, it’s a hard-hitting, memorable number that should get fists pounding and feet stomping to the beat. A frosty chill definitely lurks in the air, while this in particular is filled with the menace one would demand from the black metal genre.

Nachtgarm exercises his guttural death growls with greater frequency on ‘Battle Is Over, War Has Begun’ which is an utterly fierce, relentless assault of fast, thrashing guitars and blastbeats. There’s an air of menace on ‘His Disciple’ through the slow prowling melody that lures you in and ‘foundA Better Place’ is a compelling and atmospheric track to take things out – I like the sinister croak and creepy tones. At bang on 15 minutes this EP is short, snappy and a good teaser for things to come. It is all very competently played and production is excellent; tight and polished though without being over-rehearsed. If you’re looking for something totally 100% original then this probably isn’t it, but fans of extreme metal will find plenty to like here.

 (7/10 Luci Herbert)

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