This has been kicking my ass for a while now. Surprisingly, while I knew Azazel by name, I never got to hear them before this. Well, that’s not entirely accurate. They played Steelfest 2020 (livestreamed, of course...) and the singer was sick and was streaming from home while the rest of the band was at the actual venue. That did not turn out well, unfortunately. So, I skipped after a song or two.
There’s nothing particularly original here. Raw, hateful, violent ‘90s-style black metal is what this is, and Azazel do it right. It’s mostly fast with razor-sharp, incisive guitar work, but it’s the vocals that kind of take centre stage here, with the vocalist really belting out the hate and bringing the songs to another level. There are some short melodic passages and a few slower bits that are kind of melancholic with a dash of creepiness. This little onslaught even has some catchy bits that give it some staying power, with a few songs sticking around well after the album is over. If you miss the raw, creepy black metal from the mid to late ‘90s, this one is worth checking out.