Following on from the acclaimed ‘Journey to the depths’ demo, Maleficence return on Blood Harvest Records with this two track offering. Entitled ‘Realms of mortification’, this 7” EP is full-tilt blackened thrash played with an energy and aggression that seems powered by the very furnaces of hell.
Opening with the horrific ‘Pyre of Penitence’, a track that emerges from the tormented screams of the damned before charging headlong into the sort of virulent blackened thrash that Aura Noir revel in, Maleficence are on brutal form. With blistering riffs, ferocious solos and vocals that seem to have been summoned by necromancy, the immediacy of the music is enhanced by the pops and crackles of the vinyl, for the band’s raw, analogue sound seems ill-suited to the clinical precision of the digital realm. Better still is B side ‘Of mortification and beyond’ with its melodic leads and dirty groove. Showcasing a band who are capable of tempering their fire and fury with enough melody to keep things memorable, ‘of mortification and beyond’ is a tantalising glimpse of what’s to come from these demented Belgians and a potent demonstration of the band’s sonic firepower. A lengthy track, it takes a full two minutes before the vocals even appear, but when they do it is with a whiff of sulphur that stings the eyes even as you head-bang yourself into a coma.
Short, sharp and to the point, this 7” EP is a faultless next-step from Maleficence. Demonstrating a maturity in their song-writing and impressive musicianship, the highlight is ‘Of mortification and beyond’, but both tracks will leave fans of blackened thrash exhausted and with huge, shit-munching grins plastered across their sweaty faces. Available now via Blood Harvest, this is an EP that extreme metal fans need in their lives!
