Artist: Black Hurst
Country: USA
Label: Ixiol Productions / Nuclear War Now! Productions / Signal Rex
Formats: LP / Cassette Tape / CD
Year: 2026
Black Hurst made their debut with a demo tape in 2023, if we don’t count the strictly limited-edition promo tape from the previous year for the sake of convenience, followed by a 2-track 7″ EP in 2024 (Ixiol Productions). Those five tracks together may not have amounted to much in terms of sheer volume, but they gave away more than enough to conclude that Black Hurst was something extraordinary. Their blending of ancient and occult Black Metal with classic Heavy Metal and a strong sense of pagan melodicism definitely made Black Hurst something that stood out of the rest of the daily servings of new Black Metal bands. Now the band from New York is back for a bit more in the form of their debut album ‘Purgatory Of Flesh Bizarre’, released as a joint venture by Ixiol Productions, Nuclear War Now! Productions, and Signal Rex.
Still, there is a lot of elements that harks back to the old and mysterious beginnings of Black Metal. Especially in the way the band uses those humming and warm-tuned keyboards reminds of early Varathron and Rotting Christ, but it is the band’s penchant for classic Heavy Metal that makes Black Hurst so special. I personally love the kind of gritty guitar tone that go with the snarly vocals and the mesmerizing melodies, which serve as a kind of counterbalance to the overall melodic sound, the frequent strumming and the dreamy keyboards.
Knowing all that, especially now that all these elements have fallen into place much better with this first full-length album, It will probably come as no surprise to you that the greatest resemblance is to the enigmatic Greek band Zemial. Zemial has, like no other, mastered the capacity to blend traditional Black Metal with classic Heavy Metal and outstanding guitar work. Other bands that might deserve a mention here as well are Grand Belial’s Key and Master’s Hammer, not only because they also have a strong portion of Heavy Metal in their signature sound, but mostly because they do not shy away from unorthodox song structures. That is a big part of what Black Hurst is about as well. Even with the eclectic musical elements and the eccentric way of song crafting, ‘Purgatory Of Flesh Bizarre’ never feels quirky or going too far in their unorthodoxy. Well, at least, the album flows very naturally and it never gives you the idea that the band was set out to do this, just for the sake of it – something that is certainly often the case with a band like Absu, for example.
With a modest running time of 38 minutes, this album manages to captivate the listener from start to finish with ease. Everything seems to be balanced down to the last detail, yet at the same time it feels as though the whole thing has emerged in this form entirely naturally: a rare find in Extreme Music. Anyone who can relate to the above description and comparisons, or those who are always up for a bit of musical craftsmanship with stunning dynamics and heroic grandeur, should not let this album pass them by. 2026 is still a long way off, but this is undoubtedly already one of the highlights of the year.
