WITCHFUCK, yes another band with 'fuck' in their name, this time charging in from Poland with a bruising black/thrash attack that will have you double checking to see if your limbs are still intact after the sonic assault. Lots of thrash/black metal bands out there, only few are worth it, and WITCHFUCK are the real deal. Residing under the Godz ov War banner that adheres to the principle of quality, it was a necessary undertaking to see what WITCHFUCK had to offer that the hordes allegedly playing black/thrash metal don't.

And after about 3 consecutive thorough sessions, it's fair to say that "Black Blood Baptism" can stand fairly well on its own. Barely any mindless filler or repetition, every song has a moment that makes you think, "oh snap, this fucking rocks" and to top it off all entries are recognizably diverse and have their own set of characteristics. Such as 'Into the Fathomless' that incorporates groove and some technical/progressive riffing to segue from the middle eastern sample back into a black/death breath of wildness, while a song like 'Dar' would punt you into the mid 80s with its guitar solo and tuning. Meanwhile the title-track 'Black Blood Baptism' would open in a traditional black metal way before assaulting the ears with maniacal surges in tempo that'd materialize on a more 2nd wave black metal influenced title like 'Unicestwienie'. Then there are some tracks that are short bursts of persistent rage such as 'Hailing to the Stars' and 'Sulfur Goat' that exploit the more candid nature of 1st wave black metal.

After being baptized by visceral vocals, splenetic drum mechanics and guitars attaching its strings to various eras of metal, it is easily noticeable why WITCHFUCK have crafted one of the genre's top albums of 2021 so far and why they stand out amongst the legions stretching and clawing for the glory while other just play. A true touch of class, an eventful experience "Black Blood Baptism" is.

Full review of WITCHFUCK - "Black Blood Baptism" can be found here.

WITCHFUCK is:

Hellscreamaross - Vocals
BeerTerror - Guitar
Ziaro - Bass
M.D. - Drums

MORE INFO AND PRE-ORDERS:

http://godzovwar.com/
https://www.facebook.com/GodzOvWar/
https://godzovwarproductions.bandcamp.com

All that is war is brought to you via the relentless hand of punishment that is BARBARIC HORDE. Risen with spectacular might and breathtaking awe, the Portuguese war metal maniacs bring forth their latest installment of disaster in the form of Barbaric Hammer Fist. This album is even better in my opinion when compared to their debut full length Axe of Superior Savagery. The production is seemingly thicker and cloudy in comparison to the sharp grazing noise that was on the previous assault. Vocals are under the bassy kick and the riffs are shelled out under the cloud of clanging.

This kind of production was well thought out you could say as it gives the listener a perspective or representation of a hammering, thudding, groove; and while we could all sit here and share comparisons and debate originality, it's metal, war metal at that, it would be extremely difficult to mask the influences before you and even harder to make a record this sort (black metal) without being a copycat to some degree, so let's not thread down that path. It's the way of the subgenre, you pick your influences and throw on a camouflage, bend in and hope that you still stand out somehow. It's the tale of this subgenre and BARBARIC HORDE while blending in with the likes of a far less chaotic/technical Revenge or Damar, still manage to carve out a sound that they can be identified by. Impressive if you ask me.

Looking into the march that is opener 'Havoc Kommand', leading to a nasty offset in the furious workings of 'Iron Calvary Assassins', the mission seems pretty obvious, demolish to a battered pulp and leave behind a path of desolation. As implied the (instrumental) fury is brought into then spotlight on compositions such as 'Savage Rituals Return' and 'Caller Of Deformed Spirits' give testament to this. All in, no messing around, prepare to be obliterated when you get to the slaughter fest that is 'Sanguinary Triumphators' that display both a pulsating yet semi technical string onslaught in the soloing department. Vocals are a gasping shout and the lofi drumming cloak the instrumental atrocities.

It's a good one that came rather earlier than expected; such is the way of the predator, you always have to be on the lookout when your flesh is weak. Pickup the copy of Barbaric Hammer Fist on LP / CD / MC and digital through Godz ov War Productions on June 10th, 2022.

BARBARIC HORDE is:

Zepar - bestial chainsaw of profanation, venom evoking death and choral spasms, keys of doom
Coffincrusher - flutter of luciferian wings, collapsing burning churches, devilish chanting

MORE INFO AND PRE-ORDERS:

http://godzovwar.com/
https://www.facebook.com/godzovwar
https://godzovwarproductions.bandcamp.com/