Album Review: Necrophobic – Mark Of The Necrogram (Century Media Records)

A turbulent few years has seen Necrophobic’s ranks bolstered by new & returning band members resulting in this release. Mark of the Necrogram is a new beginning for Necrophobic & sees the blackened death metal Swedes regain much of their former glory. The new album will be released on February 23rd 2018 via Century Media Records.

Any concerns that the fire inside Necrophobic has been dampened is instantly forgotten with the unrestrained malice of the title track. The fire still burns, perhaps even hotter then ever before.

This is the sound of a band renewed. The energy expelled as tracks like Odium Caecum & Tasr Bomba deliver high levels of barbarism but leave your senses intact enough to enjoy the focused riffing, stomping drum beats & growling vocals.

This is the sound of a band returning to claim their crown. A crown that has been picked up by many a pretender who deep down know they can’t hold a candle to Necrophobic’s blackened death metal. Don’t be put off by the huge increase in similar bands over the last decade, Mark of the Necrogram really is an album that is several step ahead.

Lamashtu rises like a hungry & pissed off bear, briefly disoriented before it claws out your guts & chows down on the remains. Sacrosanct harshness sees the crows coming to feast on the rotted remains before Pesta pours dark atmosphere over nothing but bleached bone.

Time forgets most things but Necrophobic’s impressive offering to the darkness of Hell won’t be one of them. They don’t seem to have the ability to not deliver fantastically high tempo metal & where many a band would be faltering, they’re just getting better.

Requiem for a Dying Sun is one of the least mentally taxing songs on the album but also proves to be the most awe-inspiring & rhythmically exciting. Firing on all cylinders, the booming bleakness is matched by the more upbeat guitar riffing perfectly.

Mark of the Necrogram is an album that you just don’t want to end but all good things must. A blackened metal epic in the form of From the Great Above to the Great Below and the short, gloomy & poignant finale of Undergangen end things in stunning style.

A true contender for album of the year.

Necrophobic – Mark of the Necrogram Full Track Listing:

1. Mark of the Necrogram
2. Odium Caecum
3. Tsar Bomba
4. Lamashtu
5. Sacrosanct
6. Pesta
7. Requiem for a Dying Sun
8. Crown of Horns
9. From the Great Above to the Great Below
10. Undergangen

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You can pick up music and merchandise via band’s webshop here as well as pick up the album & earlier releases via Amazon above. You can stream via Spotify and via Apple Music below. Keep up to date with news via the Necrophobic’s website, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. You  can also check out some of their videos on YouTube!