Blaze of Perdition - Upharsin (2024)

There must be something in the water in Poland that produces excellent Black Metal bands like Mgła, Kriegsmaschine, Behemoth, and Blaze of Perdition to name a few. On the subject of the latter, today we have their latest opus with “Upharsin”, a 41-minute beast filled with five tracks of punishing and hateful music. If you like intensity and nerve wrecking atmospherics, this release will satisfy your cravings.

Opening with the monster “W kwiecie rozłamu”, the band unleashes eight minutes of uncompromising brutality and harshness. While not as clinical as outfits like Mgła, Blaze of Perdition compensates with sheer intensity and crafty sinister melodies, as the powerful “Przez rany” slowly builds its momentum and creates dissonant soundscapes. The band’s execution is immersive, as tracks like “Niezmywalne” perfectly deliver blistering drumming, alongside incisive guitars and engaging tempo changes.

Sonneillon’s vocals are powerful, unleashing a hellish snarl as the rest of the elements envelop the listener in chaotic and hypnotic atmospheres, with “Architekt” being the perfect example of this. Particularly, we love discovering new elements with each spin of this release, like the cathartic tempo changes in “Architekt”. Going from zero to one hundred is a skill, and the band makes it seem easy as the vicious “Młot, miecz i bat” closes this release with commanding intensity.

As a whole, “Upharsin” showcases an even more refined and targeted style from Blaze of Perdition. The band continues to do their own thing and does not fall prey into trying to copy any contemporary fads, just focusing on their intense core and unsettling atmosphere. With no gimmicks or anything fancy, this Polish outfit delivers primal fear with each of the tracks, so be warned and be prepared for the onslaught.

Label: Metal Blade Records

Release: April 19th, 2024

Genre: Black Metal

Country: Poland