Album Review: Viserion – Natural Selection (Self Released)

Viserion formed in 2019 where members John Magnani (guitarist), Benedetto Marvilli (bassist and vocalist) and Matt Marvilli (drummer) came together to cast their long shadow over the world. Taking inspiration from arguably black metal’s most fertile and explosive period — the early to mid-1990s — the music channels the unrelenting terror and iciness of their forebears: Mayhem, Darkthrone and Behemoth.

The collective hopelessness of the past year has been actively channelled into ‘Natural Selection’, which will be released on August 13th, 2021.

It has been a despondent last 18 months or so for many and if you want to hear the soundtrack to that bleakness, look no further. Viserion’s Natural Selection is the sound of hope lost, of despair, anger, sorrow and more. Portrayed through the savage medium of old-school black metal, the seven tomes that exist here are as harsh as the winters of the countries that Viserion draw some inspiration from.

The touches of melody they do introduce only serve to heighten the chilling dread. The middle of Tortured Soul being one good example of this.

Predominantly though, this is an album that is savage from beginning to end. Dripping in bleak and dark vibes while being a heady tribute to the sound of black metal’s yester-year. Look out for The Black Dahlia Murder’s Trevor Strnad adding a ton of extra ‘oomph’ to The Wraith.

Viserion – Natural Selection Full Track Listing:

1. Desolation
2. Tortured Soul
3. Vaporized
4. Natural Selection
5. The Wraith (Feat. Trevor Strnad)
6. Abandoned
7. Malevolent

Links

Bandcamp | Instagram