Artist: Antichrist Blood Scourge
Country: Australia / USA
Label: Self-Released
Formats: Digital EP
Year: 2025
At some point, a few weeks ago, the name of Antichrist Blood Scourge was all over the place, although right now, a good couple of weeks later, the buzz has died down a bit, I still wanted to see what this was all about. After a first demo that was released in April of 2025, this is the band’s second offering. I did hear that demo, but wasn’t really blown away by it, mostly because of a rather poor sound – even though I prefer my metal with a few good rough edges. But, if I have to believe some of the comments, this should be much better.
Well, to start with the sound: ‘Black Flame Ov Satanic Blood’ is indeed poured in a more listenable production, which makes things easier to judge. But a (slightly) updated sound apparently also has its downside. Because now it is much more clear that Antichrist Blood Scourge actually has very little to offer. I do think that their intention is pretty interesting, it mixes the harshness of Bestial Black/Death Metal with the moody atmosphere of older Varathron, Samael and Mystifier.
Yet, while the humming keyboards do add something of a more or less unique twist to the formula, the rest of the music is hardly any memorable. The riffs are mostly just boring, or least after hearing the same riff in about every song on the EP and especially the vocals feel forced and overall not fitting the whole thing. Even with only twenty-five minutes on the clock, ‘Black Flame Ov Satanic Blood’ feels to take a lifetime, it’s a struggle and a true ordeal that seems to have no end.
As always, each to their own, as they say, but sometimes I really have difficulties understanding what people appreciate in some music. This is one such case. Of course, that is the beauty of art, but it still puzzles me to great lengths…
