U.S. black metallers Wrath Of Logarius hold nothing back as they turn your world upside-down on punishing debut.
There are ferocious records and there are ferocious records. As Wrath Of Logarius introduce themselves with Crown Of Mortis, they make nearly everyone else seem like they are not really trying. Comprised of ultra-refined, armour plated, precision targeted modern black metal, it's an album that exudes violence, destroying everything in its vicinity and sufficiently catchy to impart an undeniable hunger to listen to it on repeat.
Any release that features original Brain Drill drummer Lord Marco is going to deal in some serious rhythmic battery, and he once again proves almost ridiculously skilled, dispensing blastbeats like they are about to be made illegal. But then, Wrath Of Logarius are a finely tuned machine, everything locked down beyond tight, and they are not beholden to genre cliches, daring to step away from 'pure' black metal to the record's betterment.
A number of different moods are stirred up across these nine tracks, and every one of them is as affective as its neighbours. A mixture of ominousness and tragedy mixes with the aggression of Keeper Of The Spectral Legion, a warped, nightmarish sway at the heart of the otherwise scathing Of The Void, while The Ethereal Mist is straight-up sinister, the unit almost challenging you to find music that sounds more evil.
Closer Dread should have been titled 'Desperation', for that is exactly the emotion it evokes, sending a chill down the spine while kicking your head in. Given that Wrath Of Logarius only had an EP under their belt this is their true introduction, and what a way to put everyone on notice. This is their world now.
Verdict: 4/5
For fans of: Behemoth, Anaal Nathrakh, Fleshgod Apocalypse
Crown Of Mortis is out now via Season Of Mist
