Polish black metal band Blaze of Perdition are back with their sixth full album release. From fury to sludge, the band here reflect in summary the repression resulting from ideologies and religions.
These five substantial pieces start with “W kwiecie rozłamu”. Blazing fires turn into contemptuous evil. The guitars act as wardens of catastrophe. Explosive and always with a wall of sound, the winds blow and we hear the croaks of suffering before Blaze of Perdition are back on the attack. The tempo varies between all-out attack and slower, wretched malevolence. “Przez rany” is more pained but no less expressive or angry. The band’s own description of it being a “march-like anthem with a ceremonial tone” is apt. Punishment and enforcement come to mind. The fury steps up and we are surrounded by a post-metal guitar siren. We are descending into an expansive world of destruction and suffering. The band chant – good for audience participation, not that there is any joy as Blaze of Perdition successfully remove all semblance of joy with this impressively dirty fare.
“Niezmywalne” blazes away with its fiery riff line. Again punishment is the order of the day. Vocalist S preaches venom amid the metal warfare. But there is always progression as Blaze of Perdition develop one scene of uncompromising ghastliness after another in a controlled way. Towards the end amid the winds of horror a sense of tragedy and hopelessness develop in the spiteful guitar line and the human cries of anguish. “Architekt” is a controlled march, stepping up in pace. There’s never any question about the intensity. “Architekt” slows down at one point and Blaze of Perdition treat us to an electrifying and evocative passage, which while less violent nevertheless contains sinister threads and evil intent. Thus ends “Architekt”, paving the way for “Młot, miecz i bat”, the fifth and final venture into a world of destruction and fury. The guitar and vocalist combine to create an imperious atmosphere before bursting forth explosively. A proper invigorating black metal romp follows, combining instrumental virtuosity with a flowing structure and 100% evil. It was a great way to finish.
If you like your music to be black, heavy to the point of bursting your eardrums, and uncompromising, here’s the place to come. It is more technically accomplished than plain black metal, with developing song structures and changes of tempo and mood, but ultimately “Upharsin” is an impressively angry black metal album.
(8/10 Andrew Doherty)
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