Panzerchrist crosses new ground.
Less than a year after the first part and following the departure of Panzergeneral (keyboards/bass, ex-Illdisposed), Frederik O’Carroll (guitar, Mordulv), Danny Bo Pedersen (guitar, ex-Arsenic Addict), Sonja Rosenlund Ahl (vocals, ex-Arsenic Addict) and Ove Lungskov (drums, Rotten Ocean) unveil their tenth album, Maleficium – Part II, on Emanzipation Productions.
Rune V Wasmer (bass) has since joined the band.
The band takes a moment to build tension with the introduction of Witchfinder General, followed by an uncompromising barrage of devastating riffs that are as raw as they are sharp, topped off by Sonja‘s now familiar screams. Every moment of this track is dedicated to violence, and even the rapid breaks become threatening, just like the opening moments of Harm Bidder, which build up pressure before releasing it to allow the musicians to continuously trample us underfoot. This track features piercing harmonics and disturbing melodies, while the rhythm section rages on, just like on Catalyst Of Chaos, which takes advantage of an impressive approach to highlight its infinite brutality sprinkled with infernal leads. The atmosphere thickens towards the end of the track, which eventually gives way to Hex Maleficium Pex, an even more oppressive composition that also uses lead parts to make it dangerously intoxicating on a solid foundation, creating a real contrast, sometimes almost too soft, with the usual fury. The length of the track allows for some experimentation, such as the distant break or the strangely vaporous solo, then Suffer My Fury welcomes us with a sample to slow things down, before the track takes off again at full speed, even taking advantage of some backing vocals to become even wilder. After another moment of uncertainty, On Walpurgis Night grabs us by the throat with fairly simple riffs under a double pedal roll, letting the vocalist masterfully lead this unholy charge through numerous occult landscapes thanks to the guitars and effects, then a few keyboards reinforce the anguish of Black Mirror. The track is short, but it allows the musicians to exploit the gloomy tones, mixing them more and more with palpable rage, creating an interesting blend before The Descent closes the album, trampling us relentlessly one last time under the vocalist’s invectives, who then lets the guitars offer us some particularly elaborate solos before opting for a final in their image: uncompromising, then disappearing into the shadows.
Since their return, Panzerchrist has been unstoppable! Each of their albums is simply incredible, and Maleficium – Part II proves that no riff is due to luck; the band simply knows how to handle violence with ferocity.
95/100
