BELPHEGOR (AUT)
PESTAPOKALYPSE VI Nuclear Blast Records

Belphegor are not particularly known for subtlety. However, neither are they known for disappointing with their intense, apocalyptic blend of black and death metal, and this latest offering for the Austrians filth merchants is no exception. Blasting off with the unstoppable piledriver that is 'Belphegor - Hell's Ambassador' the band tear into some of the most well-constructed hyperspeed death/black metal that they've ever produced with a fanatical destructive zeal that can equal any of the band's many rivals within the genre.
Hollow, cavernous vocals spit litanies of hatred like bullets while the chaotic onslaught of wailing, treble-beavy guitars and rattling, bone-shattering drums lays waste to continents without any remorse, creating a frenzied, wind-tunnel of sonic abuse that is simply frighteningly heavy. However, the torrent does let up in places, allowing the sinister, ritualistic crawl of tracks such as 'Bluhtsturm Erotika' to grab you by the throat before the maelstrom begins again. Technically impressive, blood-curdlingly violent and hauntingly dark, 'Pestapokalypse VI' is easily the best album Belphegor have produces to date. Thoroughly nasty stuff.

[ 8/10 ] Jan Finly / Terrorizer (uk)