Belgian black metal band Antzaat step forward with their first album following an EP release in 2017. Around since 2015, their style is described as Scandinavian with hints of Sargeist and Behexen.

I thought we’d started off at a wedding, such is the style of the organ-playing. “Between the Beginning and the End” gives us a second intro, rendering the first one unnecessary. As anticipated, this a world of roaring evil and malevolence. The atmosphere transforms between fury and contemptuous control. The vocalist shouts and screams as the title track pours its old school violent offering over us. As the drummer blast beats the life out of his skins, the guitar plays a grey and repressed tune. “Crown of Concrete” steps up the scale with more life or rather death. The riff is constant but the scene is intense and turbulent. After working up an epic storm on “Through the Eyes of a Rotten Mind”, “Radiant Fire” starts with the sound of warfare before dropping into the now familiar furious pattern. “Veil of Darkness” raises the energy level. It’s all no nonsense but this surge was very welcome. The vim and vigour continues with “Man Made Flesh Made God Machine” before the final battering “And This Day Shall Come Again”. Dirty, evil, turbulent – this is Antzaat’s last act of devastation for now.

It’s black metal alright. “For You Men Who Gaze Into the Sun” is murderous and intense but I cannot say it is exceptional.

(6.5/10 Andrew Doherty)

https://www.facebook.com/Antzaat

https://digital.immortalfrostproductions.com/album/for-you-men-who-gaze-into-the-sun