Battle of the Ancients

I reviewed this band's 2008 demo Shadows of Evil some years ago, and I remember liking it really well, despite that it was almost entirely generic Death/Black Metal. So when the band emailed me and offered their latest I was down with it immediately. They assured me they were much more original now and that their new album is kickass.

Well, it is that, but they don't sound much more original than they used to, except now instead of sounding like Belphegor, they sound more like Behemoth. Blasphemous Creation have gotten tighter, riffier, and more technical without becoming hyperactive. This is still definite Death/Black, but it favors the Death Metal a lot more this time. The production is first-rate, the riffs are brutal and hooky, and the vocals are a nicely toxic snarl that isn't washed through too many effects. The drumwork this time out is really snappy and well-done; and some of the crazed leadwork is really good, reminding me a little of Trey Azagthoth in the old days.

Despite not breaking any molds, this band has still cranked out a solid, endlessly entertaining slab of slightly blackened Death Metal. Intense, bestial, and proficient.