It’s handy to know that Hegerøth take their inspiration from bands such as Dark Funeral, Emperor, Naglfar and Old Man’s Child, but having been fortunate enough to hear the Polish band’s two previous albums and their EP going back to 2010, it’s clear they have plenty to offer in their own right to the world of black metal creations. Hegerøth have proved that they have no rules over their style and have mixed utterly dark atmospheres with occasional black metal melody while maintaining control over the structures. Of their 2019 album “Degenerate”, I wrote that it “captures evil, and does it in a musically accomplished and exciting way”. This time, we’re promised that “Perfidia” “keeps energy enriching Hegerøth’s music with diversity and some unconventional solutions”. Whatever the problem was that necessitated these solutions, I was intrigued to find out what they are.
So, to the matter in hand. “Hand by Hand” is fiery and has flow, interrupted momentarily by church bells before resuming hostilities. “Distorted Visions of Saints” bounces along in its black n roll way. Sparks fly but there is melody, power and of course malevolence. The tempo is relentless and indicative of chaos, but I never felt down in the swamps. Instead I’m being pulled along by this carefully constructed ode to extremity and devastation. I would even go so far as to say that “Distorted Visions of Saints” is catchy. There’s a strong shade of Immortal in the delivery style. But whatever it is, intensity and stylistic variation are at the core. From the melodious black metal of “Distortion Vision of Saints” we go to the ear-slitting rampant sonic warfare of “The Wind Embraces Me”. A break takes us briefly into the depths and the torture chamber, signalled by a solitary, invasive chord. “With the devil by my side I shall cross the gate, I did not fail, I came back home”, announces the vocalist amid scenes of deconstruction before the initially ominous “Raise Your Voice” erupts into explosive fury and grainy protest. Good to note that in the sleeve notes Hegerøth offer “special thanks to the catholic church in Poland for a never-ending source of fucking badass lyrical inspiration”. I’m sure they’re delighted. Well I can say this fury, anger and defiance is all rolled up into a ball as Hegerøth pour more vitriol on the funeral pyre. But as ever it’s controlled and imaginative. “Raise Your Voice” echoes, resonates, fluctuates and allows us to join in with its simple message of “I said no!”. Once again on an album Hegerøth don’t stick to the simple convention of leaving us in a dark wilderness but are happy to strike out melodically. “Raise Your Voice” gives a rousing uplift.
The defiant warfare continues with “Sacrificed”. The rampant fury matches the tone of nihilism and destruction. “Blood is no longer shocking when it comes out of the TV screen”, we are told. The energy is overpowering, but like a battery charge the melodic and withering black metal ring of “Last Salvation” picks us up again and sends us swirling in the riot of blast beats and turbulent chaos. Quieter moments are just menacing, and the music is insistent and relentless. The vocalist roars down our throat desperately and sometimes insanely as merciless instrumentals reflect the human misery he is describing. It’s like having life sucked out, and fittingly the solid melody and lyrics of the final track “An Angel Won’t Come” reflect on bleeding bodies, bone-penetrating illness and the sapping of the soul. But it’s more than just a lyrical diatribe. Hegerøth impose layer upon layer of fear and uncertainty with their management of tempo, sound, and vocal delivery.
“Perfidia” is a work of imagination and ferocious atmospheres. It’s black metal with clever touches and means of drawing us listeners in. I second what Hegerøth’s band member and spokesman Bene said: there is diversity and there are unconventional and indeed interesting solutions.
(8.5/10 Andrew Doherty)
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