Review by Felix on March 26, 2025.

Yesterday I bought a ticket for a train ride. Destination: Satan's kingdom. My train attendants were four bad-tempered Brits who called themselves Heathen Deity. And why not? Just let the journey begin.

Right from the get-go, the locomotive lets off a lot of steam. After the solid intro comes "Embrace The Essence Of Satan – Ephesians 6:66" and delivers pure violence pressed into three minutes. Soot particles settle on the faces, everything looks dark and dirty. This is the way I like to travel by train, and I start to think that my train attendants do their job very well (even though they look a bit menacing). High velocity seems to be guaranteed on the way to the devil. By the way, I also realize that the production of this train is amazingly well done. Everything is set into the right frame, all elements are well-balanced to each other and in spite of the fact that there is almost no dirt (with the exception of the soot particles), the atmosphere in this dignified yet ironclad train is anything but sterile. I like it a lot.

The next stations with pretty bizarre names like "The Swine Lead The Swine" increase my enjoyment of the trip. Everything is performed with passion, power and competence. All looks and sounds coherent in this train and due to whatever reasons, it makes me think of bands such as Dark Funeral. Especially "F**king Worthless" makes my day due to its mid-tempo approach which seems to lend the train more flexibility. Nevertheless, it moves relentlessly along its tracks and does not deviate a millimetre from the predetermined route. Thus, it generates a truly devilish feeling. Fantastic journey so far!

The more I concentrate on the train attendants, the more I think I have seen them before. They built a monument of "True English Black Metal". Its first half was gigantic, but the second half lacked density and strength. This time this cannot happen, I am sure. But exactly as we leave "F**king Worthless" and the second part of the route begins, the locomotive derails. F**king worthless shit! We have to wait in a "Chapel Of Filth" (this title reminds me of something British… what the hell was it? I must ask Dani tomorrow). One guy of the English quartet shows how deep he can sing. It's impressive, but also soporific. Another dude plays acoustic guitar, while the others just stand around and do nothing. This weak number has nothing in common with the energy of the trip so far. Even worse, as the journey continues, I realise that the train is somehow worse on the tracks than before. Especially at the eighth station things go complete wrong. Here it is as dull as an instrumental on a black metal disc, offering nothing but gentle, almost dreamy guitar sounds. Nobody needs that, do they? Even the best part of the second half called "The Son Of Obscurity" spreads some tragic vibes, most likely in view of its feeble surrounding. However, it houses raging elements as well as and is as fine as the first part of the route.

As I get off after the last two acceptable but not earth-shattering stops and wonder where Mr Satan's realm is supposed to be here, I look at the timetable again. Damn, I've travelled too far – I should have got off at station four. No wonder I didn't really like the last stations of the journey. Normally I only give two ratings for splits, but here the overall judgement has to be differentiated: 85% for the first and 65% for the relatively weak second part of the journey. By the way, where are the four Brits? If I come across them a third time, which of course I would like to do, I hope to have an unadulterated, joyful experience with them.

Rating: 7.5 out of 10

Review by Jeger on December 6, 2024.

From the depths of His Infernal kingdom have UK's Heathen Deity emerged once more; offering benefactions of Diabolism's bounty. Black metal for the admonition of all that is holy and for the heralding of His blood red majestic throne. Great Daemons of the pit in danse to the diabolical symphony of true English black metal on this eve of Satanic reign. Let the unholy fanfare commence! For on this day, the pride of UKBM, Heathen Deity, have unveiled their sophomore LP, Satan's Kingdom, via the prestigious Cult Never Dies.

There's been much celebration to commemorate this album release, and from what I can hear, it is well deserved. Satan's Kingdom is no throwback to second wave legacy, but a contemporary work of dynamic yet dignified sensibilities. Satanic to its core and radiating His warm ecstatic energy through hearts impassioned as the titular track unfolds with raged melodicism - fevered and streamlined - tremolo riffs and blasts coursing over you at an inertia-inducing pace before gentle acoustics signal epic passages to come. An ode to the austerity of His Infernal Majesty and to His sovereignty o'er Hell and Earth. And it only gets better from here… The following track, 'Fucking Worthless' - a succulent mid-tempo'd dirge set to martial rhythms and forgivingly accessible riffing patterns that roll and soothe you into a gnostic state - ghastly vocalizations to wring your innards into knots. On a sole plateau of their own are Heathen Deity; outclassed by few and celebrated by many.

Blessed alternations between surging distortion and dreamlike acoustics keep you on abyss's edge for the duration of this album as you find yourself at the mercy of every unpredictable shift in tempo during gluttonous tracks like 'The Son Of Obscurity' that pack your gullet full of every element of genre-defining substance you can think of from ensnaring melodies to blast-founded scales and serpentine double-bass currents. An opus! Makes you wonder why this band hasn't released more albums, but such is oft the way within the realm of black metal: cult-like obscurity and a sense of intangibility beholden to only the truest of black metal collectives.

Satan's Kingdom sees Heathen Deity at their apex, and what a monumental acquisition for Cult Never Dies - a blood pact between two proud enterprising black metal conglomerates whose collective vision for the genre is one of integrity and prestige. A veteran's eye for genuine talent has Dayal Patterson whose ventures have proven fruitful to say the least, and bands like Heathen Deity carry the torch for genre trueness. An epic for the ages, a long-awaited grande affair and a sonic conduit for the power of Satan. Let it have its way now as you fall under His sway on this night of royal Satanic revelry. And may his kingdom reign forevermore…

Rating: 9.5 out of 10