Album Review: Death League – Inferno (Theogonia Records)

The ferocious ensemble that is Death League is set to release their debut album, ‘Inferno’, a storm of unrelenting metal anthems, on August 16th, 2024, via Theogonia Records. Led by the infernal vocals of Astrous, known for his presence in Aenaon and Katavasia, and bolstered by the relentless onslaught of Jim Gaianos on guitars (Disharmony, Ephemeral), Vassilis Liakos on bass (Black Fate, Braveride, Innosense), and Nikos Tsintzilonis on drums (Black Fate, Thirty Fates), Death League is set to ignite the metal world with their blazing sound.

We can never have too much melodic death metal, and when it comes from a group of artists like Death League, there’s good reason to be very excited. Following a creative intro called Infernal Dust, things are well and truly off to the races with the heart-racing and head-thumping vitality of Infernal Dust. An initial assault of heavy instruments and garish vocals might imply this isn’t as ‘melodeath’ as first expected, but it doesn’t take long for that side of Death League to rise and thoroughly impress.

Big harmonised melodies, frenetic riffs, pounding drum beats, and a scathing vocal style that is very listenable. It’s not just the opener that delivers all of this with aplomb, and Approaching the Madness is a creative force like no other on this album. Although, even if the bar is set really high, the likes of Closer to the End and the layering of grander effects with some traditional melodeath liveliness is nothing to complain about.

The halfway point of the album arrives with a bit of a bang too. Death League bringing the energy up to a higher plateau, sliding in more melody into certain segments, and letting the vocals go to a darker place with Fall from Grace. Before all hell breaks loose, instrumentally that is, with the punchy groove of Annihilated Race and the soul rendering thrill of Next in Line’s immense guitar work. They’re all very cool tracks, but the latter just steals it.

More heaviness with bursts of vitality, exciting rhythmic catchiness, screaming melodies and scathing power, it’s the final part of the album, and Death League ensure there is no dip in quality with a self-titled hit, Enchant the Evil Spirit, which is one of the most infectious tracks of all, and Fail in Secrecy, a finale that lives up to the lofty expectations of this album and the melodeath scene in general. It’s an awesome closer on an awesome album that doesn’t mess with the melodeath formula, but has enough differing elements to ensure Death League stand out.

Death League – Inferno Track Listing:

1. Infernal Dust
2. Hysteric Epidemic
3. Approaching the Madness
4. Closer to the End
5. Fall from Grace
6. Annihilated Race
7. Next in Line
8. Death League
9. Enchant the Evil Spirit
10. Fail in Secrecy

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