More than once, I’ve read Hrizg being described as “cult”. I’m not sure what qualifies them for that but I’m guessing it’s their old school black-death metal style, which picks up comparisons with bands like Root, Mayhem and Tormentor. ”Damnatio Memoriae” is the band’s fifth album, the first one being 17 years ago.
Old school it certainly is as Hrizg launch rapidly into the fury, plague and pestilence of “Pilgrim God”. Nothing is left behind as Hrizg storm on loudly and mercilessly. The lead guitarist acts as the legion of blazing fire and death. “Once Fallen” is more of a black hymn and is more imperious in its nature. The ambience if I can call it that is of a rancid place. The song itself changes direction a number of times but never loses the nastiness. From time to time the song bursts into a traditional black melody before getting back to the business of propagating horror and misery. It ends with a defiant march and symphonic funeral tones but before that it’s black metal straight out of the box. The ending leads into “As I Forgot Your Names” which without delay rises to rapid-fire metal malevolence. The vocalist growls out his word. The drums and guitars whip up a ferocious storm.
Hrizg continue the assault with “When the Moon No Longer Shine”, another piece of flesh-ripping noise-mongering. The songs themselves are well-structured and musically tight, always following a black metal template. “Upon Your Ashes” continues in defiant and imperious manner. I imagine corpse paint coming into all this. Hrizg make all the right noises but what helps is the transformation of tempo and passages from ugly sonic death to flowing black metal and other images and sounds in between. Hrizg certainly put on a show. The musical exhibition of fire and brimstone continues with “Capitulation of the Sun”. The drums strike hard. The song is direct, save a brief slowed-down section in the middle. The same can be said of “Rebirth from the Abyss of Hate”, which switches between full-on assault and a grainier section of evil mid-song. The final song “The Lonely Raven” goes off direction with a more rock-like feel, the point of which I couldn’t see at this juncture after being put through the black metal mill for around 40 minutes. The vocalist growls away, and there’s a sort of emotive atmosphere. I wouldn’t say it’s rousing especially but it’s a decent song and showcases if nothing else the band’s tightness and ability to create structure.
Without doubt this album is in a black metal style which will be familiar to those who know the genre. “Damnatio Memoriae” has plenty of energy and the sort of atmosphere you’d expect.
(6.5/10 Andrew Doherty)
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