Album Review: Balmog – Eve (War Anthem Records)

War Anthem Records presents “Eve”, the cold and unstoppable horror that is Spanish blackened extreme metal band, Balmog’s fourth full-length. Out on May 28th 2021.

The band states:

This isn’t an avant-garde or experimental album, there is no intention to innovate, we just haven’t set limits and we have put into practice everything we have in our heads. In some ways we wanted to recreate the horror that rock music has built from Sisters of Mercy to Mayhem, from Pink Floyd or King Crimson to Danzig or Morbid Angel.

While Balmog may not have set out to experiment with their form of blackened extreme metal, there’s no denying Eve has some ideas. Traditions be dammed, Balmog do things their way and the end result is a roller coaster ride of black, death, post, punk, trad and so much more. The sum of all their influences, warped into their own filth-ridden extreme sound.

Sure, it may not be innovative but it’s a damn fine example of harsh and cold metal. Balmog spending 40-odd minutes spitting and snarling their way through 9 vicious efforts. An exhausting maelstrom of extreme, the varying tempos keeps things constantly fresh and interesting.

Sometimes burning with such fire, the speed of their instrumentation is enough to make the eyes water. At other times, they drag things down to a slow crawl, making everything feel that much more grim and dark. The transitions are perfect, as natural to Balmog as howling into the dark and cold night. Balmog exude horror and that is showcased in startling wonder throughout Eve. You won’t be sitting comfortably while listening to it but you will be listening as like all good horror, you just can’t pull yourself away from it.

At its core, Eve is a beast of extreme metal. Filled with scathing riffs that deliver nick after nick across the body. Filled with ear-drum bursting bass and drums, and blood-draining howls of disgust and derision. Extreme music for extreme times.

Balmog – Eve Full Track Listing:

1. Horror in Circuitu
2. Birth of Feral
3. Seneria
4. Slander
5. Angus Dei
6. Desacougo
7. Zohar
8. Carrion Heart
9. Lume

Links

Bandcamp | Facebook | War Anthem Records