Malakhim remains in the shadows.
E (vocals), AN (guitar, Naglfar, Occasum, ex-Ancient Wisdom), AK (guitar), VT (drums), and TK (bass) have patiently waited four years to unveil And In Our Hearts the Devil Sings, their second album.
The album opens with the title track, And In Our Hearts the Devil Sings, which offers furious but relatively melodic Black Metal after a rather majestic introduction, letting riffs and screams intertwine to draw us into their dark and violent vortex. The dissonant leads give an even more occult flavor to the waves of rage, which calm down for a short, unhealthy passage, but the length of the song makes it even more intoxicating, allowing the musicians to weave a dark veil before returning to more raw and abrasive tones on Solar Crucifixion. The harmonics remain ethereal at times, further accentuating the contrast with the visceral roars but making the performance captivating, just like on A New Temple, which follows with a very similar sound. The choruses take on a more imposing but ultimately more accessible tone, revealing an unexpected beauty, while the rest of the song retains its aggressive approach, unlike the cold Into Darkness We Depart, which immediately comes across as massive and heavy, but also allows for significant changes in atmosphere, such as during this sudden break. We continue with Angel of the Bottomless Pit, which offers more epic tones, particularly in the harmonics that accompany the charges beautifully, but also allow for a pause at certain moments, while Hearts Ablaze rekindles the flame and offers waves of pure darkness, as well as other more haunting ones that allow for the development of solemn, proclaimed vocal parts. The album reaches its final moments with The Firmament Submits and its thick Black/Death touches that blend with tortured guitars for a new long lament in the name of the dark arts, which the musicians seem possessed by before this final track that lasts and allows us to regain our senses.
And In Our Hearts the Devil Sings is only the band’s second album, but Malakhim has a very dark sound identity marked by its icy roots, giving it everything needed to make its mark on the scene.
90/100