Two years ago, the debut album of the wild horde STRYCHNOS was released – a black/death metal band with a huge charge, which managed to leave a lasting mark in my mind. “A Mother’s Curse” left me with the impression of a monstrous conceptual opus that at the time transcended almost all established stylistic notions, delivering a terrorizing wall of massive sonic veils and obsessive messages (you can recall the full review here: https://bit.ly/3TIsX2T).
“Armageddon Patronage”, the band’s second full-length, enters our music senses today. A conceptual and musical follow-up to “A Mother’s Curse”, the album offers eight anthems of boiling and soulful black metal malice with elements of death metal looseness and beautiful and varied atmospheres beyond strict definition. At just under 43 minutes, STRYCHNOS throw us in the crossfire, delivering masterful compositions with fresh ideas and intense moments.
The cover art by Phoebus Moreleón / Lïv & Död perfectly captures the album’s red thread – a total devouring of the souls, the ascension of Death. Armageddon is depicted in some texts as a place where the kings of the earth under demonic leadership will lead a war against divine powers at the end of history, or as the day of retribution, a day of justice. Therefore, “Armageddon Patronage”, “Patronage of Armageddon”, as well as its cover, are actually quite symbolic and depict precisely the majesty of Death, its night march of reaping all human “holy” destinies.
Starting with alternative atmospheric guitars, as if from a sludge, psychedelic doom metal or rock composition, suddenly the first track “Winds Warning the Final Storm” enters the emotionally charged vocals of Andreas Lynge, which take over the space and are beautifully accented by the smoother and slower instrumental interspersing its tempo with more furious and raw parts. Psychedelia and black metal intertwine in a very compelling way, the messages erupting into the air spreading their fire far and wide.
On the next track, the title track ‘Armageddon Patronage’, the energy intertwines with an increasingly ominous atmosphere, with a brief introduction to speech and veiled occult soundscapes combined with sweeping guitar moments at the end of the song that leave a lasting impression in the mind and expand the sound to a majestic grandeur.
Packing various interesting elements under its belt, over the next five tracks ‘Armageddon Patronage’ continues to gradually unfold and deliver raw and massive atmospheres, culminating in the album’s final track, ‘Nattevandrerinden’. In the night march described by STRYCHNOS here, we witness a battle anthem that goes full force and uncompromising, combining deep smooth and raw instrumentals, soaring harsh vocals as if emerging from a whole horde of demonic thirsty throats, guitar solos, more epic and war- inspiring segments and a lot of emotion.
“Armageddon Patronage” carries the winds of ominous and apocalyptic victory. With new ideas on display and even more atmosphere in their arsenal, STRYCHNOS are still raw, unyielding and ready to spread hellfire all around their sphere, delivering an occult, harsh and imposing funereal atmosphere filled with desperation, malice, supremacy and unseemly darkness. This is an album that belches the breath of death in a way that makes you shudder in awe.
Listen to “Armageddon Patronage” below:
Band: STRYCHNOS
Album: “Armageddon Patronage”
Release Date: 17-ти май, 2024-та година
Label: Dark Descent Records
Order links: https://darkdescentrecords.com , https://ddmsuo.eu
Mother of THE VOID.
Underground music is the ultimate weapon against mediocrity.
