PANZERFAUST are an institution in the genre and there are no two opinions on the issue.
In addition, they are one of the few  bands  I have spoken to in Bulgarian, which speaks volumes about the band members themselves and their attitude towards what they do.
The lyrics and the music itself correspond perfectly with the artists and what we hear in their music is never less than absolute and fierce authenticity.
In their lyrics PANZERFAUST intertwine the anti-religious and nihilistic through the opaque prism of black metal and present with each album a new opus with which we  connect on a very deep level.
In addition to the music, which is always fierce, well-produced and enchantingly written, PANZERFAUST share with us a whole philosophy and act literally like a heavy boot, crushing everything mediocre in its path, spewing uncomfortable truths that  enlighten the way forward.

Therefore, as for the third part of the tetralogy „The Suns of Perdition“, entitled „The Suns of Perdition – Chapter III: The Astral Drain“, the question is extremely simple and does not comes at all around  whether the album is good, but what’s new in the third chapter,what kind of  surprises are lurking in the songs.
I catch some fresh night air and start to write it down.

In „The Astral Drain“, things are very difficult to describe. This is  definitely PANZERFAUST – burning like a torch, as always, but this time the flames are all-consuming and aimed at total destruction, with the idea to depict a far darker and uncomfortable side of the human condition. Once again the artists uncompromisingly capture and carry every small accent through their  music, leaving no prisoners when it comes to their purity.
There is no hope here, no light, we are immersed in inhuman rage  and merciless attack against the pleasant delusions and human nature. Everything is imbued with a strong nihilistic spirit and atmosphere.

“Don’t believe your lying eyes
Into thе light we will drag them all
Delight in your surrеnder
We’ll all be scourged for the greater good
Use this yearning to breathe free
And use this time astride the grave
Believe your lying eyes
As we wipe away the horizon”

The structure of the album this time is also a little bit different from usual and the previous two albums from the tetralogy „The Suns of Perdition“.
In „The Astral Drain“ we have five full tracks – as in previous titles in the series, but this time accompanied by four interludes, which makes them nine in total and  adds extra depth to the recording , also  dividing  the album into different highlights, namely „The Fear“, „The Pain“ , “The Fury” and “Enantiodromia”, dealing with the respective themes of fear, pain, rage and the interaction between opposites.

Once again, I am pleasantly surprised by the band  and in this case in particular, their decision to re-incorporate Greek mythology into their work –  the idea about The River Styx, also  to use Carl Jung’s term as a title and element of the overall concept of their work (“Enantiodromia”),  the term  “Tabula rasa” – a Latin term that refers to the epistemological idea that individuals are born without built-in mental content and therefore all knowledge comes from personal experience or perception.
In Western philosophy, the concept of „Tabula Rasa“ can be traced to the works of Aristotle, who in his treatise „Περί Ψυχῆς“ („For the soul“) compares the mind of the newborn with the empty waxed writing board used in ancient Greece.
Capturing these (and not only) philosophical ideologies in songs and their combination, presenting them in such a fascinating way… is amazing.
Another blow of  authentic creativity by the talented  Canadians.

Starting with an ambient soundscape, carrying us into a rainy and bleak alternative reality, „Death Drive Projections“, the first song of the album , devours with its atmospheric composition and during its ten minutes length the piece throws us directly into the mud, immersed in collective madness, intoxicated by  a mystifying rhythm.
With barely noticeable references to the melody from the second chapter and more specifically to „Promethean Fire“, the song is a brilliant introduction to „The Astral Drain“ and the more peculiar nature of the album.
Sticking to a mid-tempo, the musicians managed to add different elements to each song, making each piece a perfect soundtrack to any horror film through the mindful suspense and a tense, truly intriguing atmosphere.
I will not share more about these elements, because it will be exciting for you to discover them by  yourself without warning, I do not want to spoil your pleasure, but rest assured – „The Astral Drain“ will pull you firmly in different directions and will not let you breathe to the very end.
There are no random moments here, everything is refined precisely and with a specific idea, filled with incredible passion.

A transcendental adventure through the darkest invisible corners of the metaphysical abyss – the one in which lost souls roam without the possibility of mercy.
True terror, disgust and ruthless rage and despair lurk around every corner of „The Astral Drain“.
Ritual of relentless forces fighting for supremacy over rotten human spiritual remains.
The music creeps in quietly, soaking into you with its huge dose of insistent guitar melodies, expressive vocals and unforgettable rhythm.
In this chapter of „The Suns of Perdition“ PANZERFAUST involve us  in a nightmare crawling, creeping out of nowhere, which few could capture so masterfully in musical terms.
It is definitely a challenge, but also a great pleasure to immerse yourself in this dimension of somber hallucinations and ferocious persecution among  the filth of human nature.

Score: 10/10 ????????????????????????????????????????
(Absolute  AOY)

Band: PANZERFAUST
Title: „The Suns of Perdition – Chapter III: The Astral Drain“
Label: Eisenwald
Release Date: 22.07.2022 (CD/LP/Digital)

You can hear the song „Tabula Rasa“ here:

 Pre-orders are active here: https://bit.ly/3OsrtH8