So back in 2019 I was a bit more of a fresh face to War Metal, fresh in as much as I’d taken more of an interest in the genre. I’d got into the classics and taken my time to appreciate it more fully. So, imagine my joy when Kommando Baphomet’s debut landed in my hands. At the time I was far more tolerant of dire production, and all-out noise laden warfare. That’s not to say that I’m not still into that, but it should be noted that perhaps my palette has become more refined in the last year or two. Even refined still when regarding such a harsh genre.

So what can I say about Kommando Baphomet, well they’re a duo who hail from Lisbon, Portugal and play horrendously barbaric War Metal. Their debut Blood Gospels Of Satanic Inquisition piqued my interest but not fully. I believe I even ended my review stating ‘I’m sure I’ll listen to it again and again’. It has to be said that the passage of time hasn’t been fair on that album and my revisitation has been lacking, but that aside can the bands second full length Under The Deathsign prove to have more staying power, or is it worse still?

Necrology has a creepy introduction (but one that is so tried and tested). It pretty much just makes me want to shout ‘get on with it!’. Luckily the big Death laden guitar tone which follows is epic, huge and totally evil. Although the production is seriously lacking. By the time the vocals come in I might as well be listening to the band practice through a wall. I can dig some lo-fi production but I think this band warrants something grander, even for something nigh on War Metal. Getting the kreig on is Restos Mortais with its melodic guitar opening. Then it’s into the washing machine again, noise ridden to a point of obscenity and not in a ‘cool, super heavy’ way. Chapel Of Bones (both parts) really don’t stand apart from anything else on the album. The overly echoed vocals, the mildly interesting guitars and shrug-inducing drums really make you question why you would bother with this instead of say Conqueror.

I can’t outright say I hate this band, put me in a sweaty pub with this blaring out, a dark beer in my hand that’s like tar to my lips because I’m so full of beer already and I’m in (mind you I’d watch just about any band live right now). However, in a sense of sitting at home, with a vast choice of similar music I’m going to pick Revenge or Archgoat any day. Forges In Nightmares isn’t much to write home about, I like the drums in this song quite a bit but those vocals! So annoying, they’re almost a Blackened equivalent to Porngrind but without the silliness or humour. Encarnaçao Divina has some pretty tasty guitars and I have to say the guitars are a strong magnetising feature throughout. Although an album can’t live on a diet of guitars alone. As stated, live and in a drunken state I’d be slapping the floor like some crazed maniac to this but at home in my PJs, not so much. The album (finally) ends with Deathsign Of The Kommando Baphomet, big riffs, bad vocals, you know the score by now, and that’s the end of that story.

I went into this album hoping for and expecting bigger and better things from Kommando’s evolution. What I actually got was a regression. The best way I can sum this band up is like this. They’re the kind of band that the super elitist guy raves about because they’re so gritty and nasty. Then five years later when said individual realises that being ‘trve’ is the real false they realise that actually this band is as bland as a butter lacking cracker. I’m being a bit harsh though, there are notions that I did enjoy, the guitars were good at points and I think it has a very sonic and merciless vibe to it. However, if you want proper War Metal just listen to Blasphemy.

(5/10 George Caley)

https://godzovwarproductions.bandcamp.com/album/under-the-deathsign