Year: 2024
Total Time: 41:01
Label: Metal Blade
BLAZE OF PERDITION is considered as one of the main contributors in the vanguard of Polish Black Metal and with their new release ‘Upharsin’ they make sure to confirm it! 2020’s album “The Harrowing of Heights” had created an explosive mix of more rock ‘n’ roll references, with compositions that would have allowed them to be introduced to a wider audience, but the pandemic delayed everything and has put them in a state of “hibernation”, luckily not for long…
“Upharsin” pulls BLAZE OF PERDITION off the rough paths and places them on more passable roads, straight, with fewer turns. From the first notes of “W Kwiecie Rozlamu-In Raptures Prime” the misanthropy of the human beacon spreads across the void, like fire and laurel that purifies souls. The compositions are long, 8 minutes on average do not let the listener to get bored, with a diverse alternation of extreme rhythms and blastbeats to staccato rhythmic guitar riffs, under an eerie and mysterious veil.
While listening to Upharsin” someone can also encounter epic elements BATHORY’s style in “Mlot, Miecz I Bat-Hammer, Sword and Whip” with the guitar solos at the end shredding constantly and in “Przez Rany-Through The Wound” the breakthrough monotonous rhythm and memorable ROTTING CHRIST school riffs are followed by a chorus made for live performance. Sonneillon recites, mouths the lyrics with disgust, accusing religions, politics and various aspects of societies being responsible for humanity’s reluctance and refusal to learn from the mistakes of its history, with one of the results being the continuation of perpetual cycle of violence. How the oppressed minds construct oppressive demons that take over, how they feed on vanity and prejudice complexes to reach the depths of our primitive origins.
Guitarist Marcin Rybicki’s production and mix is crystal clear and lets some space between layers of sound, without being stuffed. This time BLAZE OF PERDITION moved forward, away from the shadow of WATAIN. They related to MGLA in terms of the vocals, and redefined their sound. If “Conscious Drakness” was the successful attempt of weaning, if “The Harrowing Of Times” was the release from the “shoulds”, then “Upharsin” undoubtedly is their consolidation in the elite of the Polish Extreme Metal scene.”
Rating: 7.5/10
Editor: Dimos Karadimos
Related Link: BLAZE OF PERDITION – Facebook Page
