Well lo and behold it’s another release from the Scando Death-Metal combo (try ordering that as a starter for two!!) Impious. These guys have been pottering around Europe for a few years now earning a reputation at festivals as willing crowd pleasers and here we have their sixth release. 

There is an upside and a downside to Black Metal. It does exactly what it says on the tin music wise, which is both its strength and its Achilles heel. Scandinavia and Eastern Europe seem to be overrun with it at present yet only a chosen few seem to make it over to Blighty with any impact. Opeth have plundered like Vikings since experimenting with more melody and proggy elements from their standard blueprint Scando-Death sound.

Of course there are those that accuse them of selling out but to adapt and experiment on albums is surely common sense? 

However, if you like it old school then you will love this, it is polished and enjoys some storming riffage as you would expect.  This release is packed full of masked serial killers & murdering priests doing Satan’s bidding (and that doesn’t involve twenty Lamberts and a TV Quick from Spar, believe me!) and the like. 

There is nothing remotely new or original here, but it is all done with flair and a blind belief in the subject that gives it immediacy and a dark edge. The production is excellent, from twisting drumming to lightning machine gun guitar parts, it seems as if everything is louder than everything else. 

So in summary, it isn’t groundbreaking or innovative, it isn’t going to get your gran dancing at New Year, but if you like your rock blood soaked and corpse ridden then check this out.

Let us know your views on 'Holy Murder Masquerade'

Track List

The Confession
Bound To Bleed (For A Sacred Need)
T.P.S.
Bloodcraft
Holy Murder Masquerade
Death On Floor 44
Slaughtertown Report
Three Of One
Everlasting Punishment
Purified By Fire
Dark Closure

Line UP

Martin Åkesson - Vocals
Valle Adzic - Guitars
Robin Sörqvist - Guitars
Erik Peterson - Bass
Mikke Norén - Drums