Artist: Division 52
Country: Germany
Label: Rat Covenant / Southern Soundclash
Formats: Cassette EP / CD EP
Year: 2026
This is an EP I’ve been looking forward to for a while. ‘Total War’ is the debut release from the German duo who perform under the name Division 52. Given their experience within the German Extreme Metal scene, it’s not hard to imagine that ‘Total War’ is not just any random first release, but a worthy entry into the world of the crushing Bestial Black/Death Metal scene.
You won’t find much in the way of variety or innovation here. Division 52, possibly named after a military division from the former German or perhaps even the British army, bases its musical antics on a decades-old tradition of blistering drums, grinding guitars and roaring vocals. All cast in a mould of speed and crushing monotony: there’s no letting up, and moments of respite are few and far between. These come only in the form of a few samples of war scenes: crackling artillery or marching boots. That immediately puts the whole thing into the right context: a bellicose and violent musical experience that puts your eardrums to the test.
On a musical level this is easily placed within the same ranks of some other German Black/Death Metal bands of the same ilk such as Truppenstorm, Thorybos and Bluthammer. Also fans of bands like Diocletian, Revenge, Teitanblood and Black Blood Invocation will find themselves entertained with this almost 20-minute EP. To lend the whole thing a little extra cachet and gravitas, the track ‘Deathmarch’ features guest appearances by Nvnfvkker (of the band of the same name) and Alex “Dominus A.S.” Schulze of the German cult band Naked Whipper.
