Once again German band Depravation and German label Lifeforce Records have combined to spew out another full-length release full of Black/Death Metal violence and intensity with a touch of crustiness for good measure. ‘IV: Letvm’ is the band’s third album to date and its opening track ‘Nur einen Spalt’ (Just A Crack) offers a furious insight into the grim delights to come. For me though the album truly kicks into gear with second track ‘Vampire Burial’ with its intensive blast of maniacal guitar tones and punishing bass leads, very much in an orthodox Black Metal style, yet combined with a fast-flowing groove that really sinks its fangs into you refuses to let go. Other tracks such as ‘War Dreams of Itself’ are pummelling crusades of vengeful musical battering, tempered in part by slower moments of brooding guitar melodies, before a vocal haranguing combined with powerful all-encompassing drum tones once more kick the album into full gear!
Whilst the overall style if unwaveringly Black Metal, the Death/Crust influence cannot be suppressed as with tracks such as ‘Involuntary Violence’, whose far deeper bass groove, rampant guitar sound and overall murkier style transcend pure Black Metal into something far more noxious and unrelenting. Again, a track with an engaging catchiness to its surging flow is then followed up with more primal, urgent aggression, this time in the shape of the on rushing ‘Im Schatten’ (In the Shadow) whose stark, cold guitar tones spike and flair out of the maelstrom of unbridled aggression. ‘Lessons of Darkness’ adds an interesting melodic palette cleanser before another bout of hostility and marauding riffs, whilst ‘Certain Death’ slows the pace with menacing end results and an abrasive showcasing of the vocal talents on offer.
Closing things out with the colossal grooves of ‘Suffering’ and passionate melodic wanderings of ‘Sadness’, Depravation brings to a close an album with very little to dislike about it. ‘IV: Letvm’ is thoroughly engrossing throughout with no filler to be found.
(8/10 Marksson)
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