Review by Jeger on May 24, 2025.

There is no religion more oppressive than Islam… It's tyrannical grip upon the Middle East sees people stoned to death, dismembered and hanged for failing to comply with Sharia Law. It sees women disgraced and children condemned to abuse and violence. And there's probably been no fiercer oppressor than one Ayatollah Khomeini - a key figure in the 1979 Iranian Revolution. He was responsible for countless deaths, torture and even the slaughter of innocent children. His vision for Iran was a nightmarish one; brought to life through heinous travesties against humanity. Now, there's a band known as Trivax that is here to cast light upon these atrocities…

Trivax is a Black Metal project that got its start in Tehran. In those days, Trivax risked imprisonment and even death for the cause. Trivax visionary, Shayan, before beginning his project, was known for challenging his teachers and their ideals. He knew at a young age that there was something way wrong with Islam. In 2011, Shayan, made his way to the United Kingdom to build a lineup for Trivax. He began the project in 2009 as a solo venture. In Birmingham, he found drummer Matthew Croton, guitarist Benjamin Sheldon and bassist Thomas Bushell. In 2012, Trivax released their demo, Set The Torch. There were a couple of lineup changes up until 2018. That year, Shayan encountered one Sully, who was actually imprisoned by the Syrian Regime at the age of 18 and tortured because of his passion for Heavy Metal. And so the band's first concrete lineup was formed. In 2023, Trivax released their second LP, Eloah Burns Out, via Cult Never Dies, and to the enthrallment of critics and enthusiasts. Now, two years later, we await Trivax's third LP, The Great Satan, which is scheduled for a May 30 release via the legendary Osmose Productions.

This is what BM is all about: rebellion, liberation and confrontation. Within The Great Satan (a title given to the Ayatollah as a way to personify evil), you'll encounter deep cultural influences, but mainly, you'll take in Black Metal of the most brutal consort: nasty riffs, bludgeoning rhythms and savage vocals. Aside from the aforementioned cultural elements, The Great Satan also bears semblances to some of the greats to include Watain during "To Liberation And Beyond" with its fierce momentum and Gaahl era Gorgoroth during "Here Comes The Flood", as it unfolds to complex yet swift progressions. God damn is this good… A power trio at their apex, and unrelenting is their onslaught.

The titular track - a deeply contemplative number; not what you would expect, especially considering the intense nature of the preceding cuts. Production quality is of a world-class kind, and it's a nice compliment to the music, which is reflective of this band's artistic maturation/class. This record is much more of a straight Black Metal affair when compared to Eloah Burns Out that leaned closer towards the Black/Death sub-genre. "Daemon's Melancholia" is a prime example: melodic and enchanting - slightly redolent to the Golden Age of the early '90's Melodic Black Metal movement when bands like Dissection and Sacramentum reigned. There are a number of clips that play out during the album that I assume are verbal accounts of some of the oppression that took place during the Ayatollah's scourge. These convey an air of importance, almost to the point of urgency for the recording. The soulful "Operation Ramadan", following its heartfelt sequences, gives way to the closer, "Tamam Shod". It's here in these closing moments of the album when it all becomes clear as to how meaningful this record is to Trivax. Like a funeral in its somberness, like a tribute to the fallen and like the death of freedom does this closing chapter play out. An elegy for those whose names have been forgotten, but whose sacrifices are forever etched into the pages of history.

As the brutality of the Islamic Extremist religious machine continues its course throughout the Middle East - grinding its way through innocence and turning up the rotten soil of degradation, Trivax make their voices heard: brave, profound and victorious. The voice of the voiceless have they become. A new kind of Black Metal movement is upon us! A new enemy. Aeons old yet feared until now. Bands like Trivax are of the utmost importance to today's Black Metal climate. Give Islam the slander it deserves! Make its horrors known and stand boldly against it in the adversarial Black Metal way. This is freedom, this is opposition… This is Trivax.

Rating: 10 out of 10