Artist: White Baroness
Country: Finland
Label: Primitive Reaction
Formats: LP / Cassette tape / CD
Year: 2025
What do you get when members of Morgal, Sigon and Devil Moon get together in the same room? No doubt a deranged Heavy Metal drinking party but apparently also a new band: White Baroness. What exactly they have come up together we are about to find out, as Primitive Reaction releases their debut full-length, ‘War Chariots’.
What all other bands of the members have in common is a love for Heavy Metal and Black Metal, and indeed, White Baroness can easily fit that mold. But none of those bands really sound the same, and this newest union is no exception. Not nearly as Heavy/Speed Metal oriented as Sigon, as Punk-infused as Mutant Sex Demon or leaning towards Occult Rock as Devil Moon, probably the most similarities are with the fast Black/Speed/Thrash Metal of Morgal, although White Baroness is not as over the top blistering in pace. Instead, I would make the argument that ‘War Chariots’ is more of a Black Metal record with a strong Heavy/Thrash Metal presence, slightly more epic and melodic with a distant hint of melancholy. Not at all unlike bands like Nifelheim and Deathhammer, enhanced with a bit a sped-up version of Dissection, some Immortal and a big fat Finnish twist.
‘Lonely Cold Grave’ opens up almost in traditional Black Metal fashion, with high pace and snarling vocals, but quickly turns to a more Thrashy riff. While the tempo remains high, towards the end the melodic elements and even some keys surface, giving the music a slight epic touch. ‘Melindra’s Blood’ instantly has a similar obvious Thrash Metal undertone, though there is a clear sense of Marduk-like riffs in the track as well. But it’s in particular Deathhammer that I hear here. The rather unhinged vocals and the sense of melancholy in the melody are striking, especially combined with the ever-propeling pace of the drums. In the subsequent ‘Spiritual Assassin’ there are some clear progressions in the vein of Dissection, although White Baroness is much less about melody and atmosphere and more raging in character. Still, the underlying keyboards and tremolo riffs bare a certain chill. The riled up start to ‘Six Banners of Satan’ may give another indication, but the song twists into a more grooving Heavy Metal direction, at least for a little while. The rest of the album doesn’t get nearly as obvious in its Heavy Metal references and leans more on the pacey Black Metal with Dissection at 2X speed formula but certainly remains interesting. For instance the back and forth riff of ‘Lich’s Spear’, the clear Dissection-esque riffs of ‘Guillotine’ or how the frenzied drums contrast a gentle solo speak nothing but quality.
The continuous pace of the drums and the quick riffs make for a record that feels like a whirlwind. The unrelenting beating of the skins by itself are impressive, but the catchiness of the riffs and the pretty deranged vocals make for a highly enjoyable experience. Add some atmosphere-enhancing subtle keyboards, and I can only conclude that ‘War Chariots’ is a more than welcome debut for White Baroness. Especially those that liked the records that Morgal released will want to check White Baroness out, but it’s obvious that despite their string of already excellent bands with similar influences, the members of White Baroness have found yet another unique way to make their love for all things Metal known.
