If the prelude to Ondskapts latest creation is not enough to create a demonic scene then have no idea what is. The prelude features all manner of haunting and terrorising soundscapes, ranging from chains and crashes resonating to chants from vitriolic voices and as much other stuff which could have come straight from the set of The Exorcist

The band then launch into ‘Semita Sinistram’ with an all-out assault on your senses. This is raw vitriolic black metal at its most extreme. The track punctuates itself with some slight respite and plodding intersections before Acerbus injects with more venomous and satanic vocals. Acerbus also links in with J. Megiddo on the six strings to create a tsunami of aggression and violence which sits on top of the 4-string pummelling from Gefandi Or Andlat and the absolute brutality of Daemonum Subeunt on the percussion.

‘Ascension’ begins with the bells tolling and then the audible riot begins once more. This time there is more pace than its predecessor and this only seems to fuel the vocal aggression which attacks your very soul. Each lyric is spat out with precision and rawness it is transparent in its construction and the level of extremity seems to attract a certain cold beauty which the Swedish black metal movement is demonstrating more and more that it can conjure up with breath-taking ease.

The album continues in the same way, pulverising and hypnotic. the backbone to the album and the aesthetics are almost enchanting and tranquil in their venom. ‘Devotum In Legione’ and ‘Animam Malum Daemonium’ are hypnotic and absolutely brutal from the offset. Each of the Onskapt facets are dedicated to the cause and this is showcased in their intricate and delicate approach to the raw and ferocious sections of each track. ‘Animam Malum Daemonium’ even carves itself open with stripped back slower sections to the whole body yet this only adds to the intensity and malevolence cascading out of your speakers

‘Opposites’ starts with some undistinguishable ‘noise’ before launching into more of a melodic take on the black arts. That is not to say the track is not as vicious and ruthless as its album siblings, it just seems to have created strands of pure decadence amongst the macerating landscape of its darkened being.

‘Paragon Belial’ has the most abstract opening to any of its track mates. The opening transports us to a stormy path with the sound of rain and wind lending the way to an acoustic guitar piece. This all adds to the intensity which builds around it and it is a beautiful talented segment of respite in amongst all the madness and ferocity. The track still intends to pummel us though and mid track the swedes are back to their deep rooted raw and dirty black metal attack. The vocals seem to have more meaning to them on this one and they are delivered with power and precision amongst the savagery and mauling laid upon us

The album concludes with three absolute behemoths of tracks, none letting down the guard in relation to the extreme make up of the souls. The closer ‘Excision’ is a slower number to start with than the rest, but this is a beast of two halves. While the first half may be slightly slower and ploddier, it more than makes up for this with the second half of itself. The track takes off and goes absolutely astronomical in the pace and deliverance before putting the brakes on and leading us into a segment of a beautiful church choir plying their trade amidst some faint organ notes to round off the album.

This is extreme Swedish black metal from one of the lesser-known household names which may have escaped all but those with an impressive knowledge of the black metal world. Once this album has been sighted, it is sure to sit proudly amongst many a black metal fans vinyl collection and certainly will not look out of place amongst the heavy weights such as Watain, Naglfar and Dissection

(8/10 Phil Pountney)

https://www.facebook.com/ondskaptofficial

https://osmoseproductions.bandcamp.com/album/grimoire-ordo-devus