Artist: Nefarious Scorn
Country: Canada
Label: Pain Chain Productions
Formats: Demo Tape
Year: 2026
Not even that long after the release of Nefarious Scorn’s second full-length album, that saw the light of day in December 2025, the duo is now back with a new release in the form of this rehearsal tape. Although the term ‘rehearsal tape’ in connection with Nefarious Scorn might sound a bit like a pleonasm, the simple fact that there is new material to enjoy from this Canadian band, which specialises in rehearsal-style Black Metal, is actually what matters most.
Anyone who has heard anything from the band’s previous work will wholeheartedly agree that there is nothing polished or refined about Nefarious Scorn. Although the individual recordings vary slightly in terms of how raw they sound, raw they certainly are. In that regard, ‘Dead Cold Forest’ isn’t that much different from the regular Nefarious Scorn formula. But aficionados of pure and energetic rehearsal recordings will definitely get their kicks out of this tape.
Apart from the spooky intro and a somewhat Dungeon Synth-like outro, Nefarious Scorn goes head first into chaos-ridden Black Metal ugliness. Amongst the tracks is the Darkthrone cover ‘Quintessence’ and together with a couple of riffs that reminds a lot of early-to-mid era Akitsa that alone gives a very good idea of what Tormented Victimizer (drums & vocals; also in Starcave Nebula and a number more) and Sodomized Executioner (guitars & vocals; also in Pillagery a Goatspear) are bringing to the table here. If anything, this rehearsal shows the band’s most primal form, channelling their energy through nothing more than their instruments and voice.
If you don’t mind having your Black Metal harsh and crude, complete with volume drops, errors, feedbacking guitars and whatnot, this is a very enjoyable and honest set of tracks.
