Antichrist Siege Machine – Vengeance Of Eternal Fire
Reviewed By: Jason Deaville
Review Score: 8
Summoning the darkness with their third LP, Vengeance Of Eternal Fire, Richmond Virgina’s Antichrist Seige Machine are, at first glance, not a band for the faint of heart. Expanding upon the latent evil in their hearts, the duo of SB (drums and vocals) and RZ (guitars) have furthered their commitment to utter brutality. Casting their lot with the demons of Hell, the band will no doubt appeal to anyone who loves incredibly extreme, dirty, and grinding blackened death metal.
Over the last several years, Antichrist Siege Machine have solidified support within the underground based upon the success of two full-lengths (2019’s Schism Perpetration and 2021’s Purifying Blade), as well as one EP (2020’s Filth Of The World). As a result, the band did several dates as direct support to Emperor, and US tour runs with bands such bands as Demilich and Miasmatic Necrosis. Also part of the Purifying Blade campaign, the band have conquered Europe on a UK/IRE tour with Full Of Hell, and a full European tour with labelmates Spirit Possession.
Vengeance Of Eternal Fire opens with a scalding, war metal anthem, ‘Sons Of Man’, that sets the tone for what is still to come. Like the albums that came before it, the production is gritty-yet-razor-sharp, with a mix that is slightly easier on the ears than what is usually the norm for this style of extremity. ‘Only Evil’, ‘Piled Swine’ and ‘Sisera’ immediately recall the vicious riffing of Beherit, Revenge, Black Witchery, and Blasphemy.
Where the album differs from other bands of this ilk is in its use of groove-laden hooks. It’s not often, if ever, that one catches themselves tapping their toes to this style of metal. The vicious hooks found in songs such ‘Cowering Lamb’, ‘Prey Upon Them, and ‘Vanquishing Spirit’ serve to push the sub-genre in a forward direction, offering something a little bit different to the norm. The crushing rhythms and salvo of brain-liquifying vocals deliver a consistent and unadulterated listening experience that can go toe-to-toe with any big boys of the sub-genre.
At times, the album offers brief moments of respite with some truly brutalizing and cavernous Incantation and Archgoat-like doomier sections that get the head bobbing. The triumvirate of ‘Scalding Enmity’, ‘Lysergic War Psychosis’, and ‘Abyssal Hate’ end the album with a chaos that is as vexing and vertigo-inducing as it is structured and tangible.
Overall, Vengeance Of Eternal Fire hits like ten thousand razor-sharp swords to the torso, yet it is varied enough in its tempos that the ensuing onslaught never becomes too much to handle. If the formidable extremity of war metal has never been your cup of blackened metal tea, this is one band and album that could very well appeal to that faint of heart yours.
Vengeance Of Eternal Fire hits shelves on April 19th via Profound Lore Records.