Album Review: Dødsferd – Wrath (Hypnotic Dirge Records/FYC Records)

Dødsferd, the iconic Greek black metal band, return with their 12th studio album release, ‘Wrath’. Out on May 10th, 2024, via Hypnotic Dirge Records and Fucking Your Creation Records.

If there is one guarantee about Dødsferd it is the fact that whatever they release, it will be hellishly dark and horribly twisted. A fact that is once again confirmed by the blackened intensity of Wrath. An apt title as it finds Dødsferd as furiously fast and as heavy as they were on their earliest releases.

Beginning with the hysteria of Restoration of Justice. The egregious scream of suffering that greets will tell you all you need to know about what a brutish and blazing blast of malevolent heaviness this opener is. Although, it’s no real surprise that this is the vibe that continues into Decay of Sanity. The guitars and drums creating a tornado of speedy noise, while the vocals howl with the demonic power.

This is the Dødsferd way, and even though everything is rooted in a familiar black metal sound, they still make it feel so atmospheric. Especially as being vast and sophisticated is part of their make-up, something embodied by the sinful and salacious Raging Lust of Creation.

Yet, alongside that, there are many moments on this album where they simply go for nothing but viciousness, and nothing is quite as vicious sounding as Spiritual Lethargy or as hatefully horrible sounding as Heaven Drops with Human Filth. A pair of tracks that epitomise the destructive and wild capabilities of Dødsferd when they pour all their bile into making black metal music.

The album (aside from the vinyl version) is then capped off with more of that expansive captivating chaos with Failure Ablaze in your Existence. Speeding instrumental savagery as per usual, and with vocals that will make your skin feel like it is crawling off your flesh.

Vinyl buyers get an extra piece of malignancy though, with Dødsferd offering up Back to My Homeland – A Beast in Calm. A gargantuan 13+-minute track that is layered with so much horror-tinged ambience that it is downright uncomfortable to the ears. It’s an extremely unconventional listen that expands into a colder melodic state as it goes on.

While it is interesting, it doesn’t feel like necessary listening, especially because of its length. The main bulk of the album does more than enough to satisfying those with blackened hearts and dead souls.

Dødsferd – Wrath Track Listing:

1. Restoration of Justice
2. Decay of Sanity
3. Raging Lust of Creation
4. Spiritual Lethargy
5. Heaven Drops with Human Filth
6. Failure Ablaze in your Existence
7. Back to My Homeland – A Beast in Calm (Vinyl Exclusive Bonus Track)

Links

Bandcamp | Hypnotic Dirge Records | FYC Records