Hrizg – ‘Inferno’ EP Review

Hailing from Spain, Hrizg is a one-man musical venture designed to restore black metal to its primitive, satan-worshipping roots and with a deal with respected label Moribund records on the table and EPs of the quality of ‘Inferno’ it seems that he is likely to succeed on his mission. With a battle cry of ‘War and hate’, this is the blackest of metal, heavily influenced by Pagan themes and imbued with a crushing sense of purpose and it will undoubtedly ignite the enthusiasm of fans of bands such as Darkthrone and Emperor with its stately, intelligent and puritanical take on the genre.

Opening with ‘Inferno I – The awakening’ it is very much business as usual with high speed guitars pitched against cacophonous drums and, very much at the forefront of the recording, Hrizg’s vocals themselves which are a simple atonal gargle shot through with the furious determination of a musician who knows exactly what he wants each element of the music to portray. With the guitars trebly yet distinct, there is much to admire, not least the stately, epic nature of Hrizg’s song-writing which is emboldened by the deeper production that he has opted for this time out which, despite still being admirably raw, has a greater clarity than before. ‘Inferno II – To yield below the frozen sky’ reaffirms this view with the music hinting at a vast, ancient lineage that harks back to the days when the halls of men were lit with flaming brands and where random acts of violence were commonplace and celebrated. It is this sense of the ancient, the primitive and the ungodly that makes Hrizg so utterly compelling, and the depth of his ability truly shines through on these five, all-too-brief tracks with antiquated melodies rising from the searing blackness of the tracks to create a genuine sense of atmosphere.

‘Inferno III – shadowshield’ continues the underlying theme of violence and disillusion with a crushing central riff and symphonic flourishes that recall an army marching to war before the stair-stepping guitars of ‘inferno IV – Ars goetia’ take things in a deathly My Dying Bride direction with somnambulant drums and hell-torn vocals rubbing shoulders with the Gregorian chants of the damned. Recalling the early period of MDB (think ‘as the flower withers’) it’s a litany of despair and hatred that sounds amazing as a centrepiece to this remarkable EP with Hrizg really pushing himself both vocally and musically. Final track ‘inferno V – Conqueror of this wooden abyss’ opens with an  acoustic section which sounds like it was recorded in a storm before the guitars crash in to create an epic finale which recalls the bleak nature of classic Burzum material.

This is an excellent EP. Like all black metal it is an acquired taste thanks to the raw nature of the production and uncompromising nature of the music on offer, but for adherents to the genre Hrizg offers up a refreshingly old-school approach that is beautifully played, intelligently written and gloriously atmospheric. A remarkable and passionate performance from an artist whose work demands to be heard.