Black Beast "Nocturnal Bloodlust" Cassette

Black Beast whip forth an infinitely headbanging fury here, a resolutely asskicking Motorcharge that's nevertheless not short on atmosphere. It's purely and proudly all-caps BLACK METAL - after all, are they not monikered Black Beast? - and poignantly proves that, sometimes, the most singleminded focus yields the most gripping results. LIMITED EDITION TO 250 COPIES HANDNUMBERED

Despite forming in 2002 and with their debut release in 2005, Finnish raw black metallers Black Beast have only unveiled their debut full length record recently in 2019.
Diving straight in with crashing drums and monstrous guitar riffs, there is a strength permeating from the very onset, met with soaring lead guitars and phenomenal fills, this album is introduced in style. The chaotic assault begins with meaty drum work and savage riffs that drive out true classic black metal vitriol, perfectly suited to the spewing of vicious vocals that hits with full ferocity. Black Beast take a blend of classic Finnish black metal atmospherics with the raw energy and primitive attack of the precursors to the genre such as Hellhammer. Unmistakably violent, gorgeous melancholy tinged riffs balance out the otherwise hateful onslaught that really does hit all the right spots for a black metal fan with a concoction of demonic energies in simplistically enjoyable and groove-laden extremity that will captivate your attention. Alongside a barrage of monolith tremolo riffs and insane blast-beats, there is a maniacally ritualistic touch that draws on ambience for a strengthened atmospheric side to the music while never detracting or straying too far from the huge walls of ripping warfare that has a noticeably Satanic Warmaster vibe in used now and again for a veritably intense soundscape that is as punishing is it is hypnotically beautiful. With a lot of raw black metal, often less is more can be the best method, which Black Beast stick with to a point. They definitely retain the primal edge of other genre sharing masterminds but they also touch on more atmospheric sounds and then take things in the opposite direction to almost war metal territories for brief spells which certainly make for an unpredictably volatile and exciting listen that is stunningly varied and most importantly they work all the ideas together to make for a monolith of evil energy and extremity.
This is some classic black metal mastery that thrashes out disgustingly morbid music only for the diehard fans of the genre, and damn do they deliver something wonderful. After so long since the demo era of the band, it is fantastic to see them deliver such an unholy, unrelenting and barbaric release that was absolutely worth the wait.

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