The moment the album arrived in my hands, I couldn’t help but start listening immediately, mouth watering in anticipation. Initially expecting a full-on blastbeat assault, I was suddenly confronted with a heavy, brutal, dark album filled with thick bass and mostly off-kilter drum rhythms — an album soaked in hatred, rage, and merciless darkness.
What I heard was a matured, respectful "Marduk," paying homage to their veterans while birthing a blood-red moon of darkness with their crushing intros. This album stands apart from all black metal records made until now.
Set to unleash death with Blooddawn Productions this April, the album’s tracklist is:
The Levelling Dust
Cold Mouth Prayer
Imago Mortis
Through The Belly Of Damnation
1651
Limbs Of Worship
Accuser/Opposer
Vanity Of Vanities
Womb Of Perishableness
Voices From Avignon
The recording lineup was:
Morgan Steinmeyer Håkansson – Guitar
Mortuus Arioch – Vocals
Magnus Devo Andersson – Bass
Emil Dragutinovic – Drums
However, Emil left the band during the recordings, and the young Lars Broddesson stepped in to continue the blasting.
The album opens with a chilling and brief intro, gradually moving into savage bass lines and Mortuus’ deep, guttural vocals, layered over Middle Eastern-inspired melodies. The track ends with a disturbing outro that lingers unsettlingly.
The second track kicks in even harder, again led by Mortuus’ gruff growls. Listening to the songs one or two times in a row fully immerses you in this dark abyss.
The song "1651" sounds like Mortuus is chanting verses, cursing the religious while backing it up with drum beats resembling martial bands from hell itself.
“Vanity of Vanities” is a nightmare come to life—hellish from the first guttural vocal, relentless for nearly a full minute of scathing riffs before dropping the rhythm briefly with Mortuus’ vocal descent, only to return with a grimace and dig back in mercilessly.
"Womb Of Perishableness" is a track with off-kilter rhythms, almost a tribute to Venom worship. It starts with deep, ominous sounds, never relenting, maintaining that harshness until it gradually slows and ends abruptly—like a shooting star fading out of sight.