Power from Hell – Shadows Devouring Light
Release Date: 30th September 2022
Label: Debemur Morti Productions
Bandcamp
Genre: Black Metal, Thrash, Blues.
FFO: Darkthrone, Satyricon, Abigor.
Review By: David Oberlin
Brazilians’ Power from Hell have been around for a long time now. Having released their all important first album back in 2004. Shadows Devouring Light is their seventh opus. And, for all its noise, has moments of rhythmic clarity that elevate this from the malignant masses of try-hard black metal albums.
Power from Hell have honoured the archetype structure of nineties black metal here, and it works. There is a bit more play on the drums than you would expect from a true-sounding record, but to have any identity, that is a necessity. What is derivative are the heavily lubricated vocals that sound like they were recorded in a well. It is a perfect juxtaposition to the tightness of the instrumental tracks.
And, like any good black metal record, the all important intro is a seductive interlude between silence and the release of the raw and unrestrained tremolo riffs. The intro accurately sets the scene for the malevolent tunes that are held within this album. And is a detail that can often overlooked. Power from Hell seem to get that good ole’ BM is antithetical to mainstream pop music, and the snap-snap pop structure.
With all that said, the riffs do not explore any new territory for the genre, and sounds like another exhaustive take in the Locrian mode. With sweet, sweet moments of reprieve. Though, those are few and far between. It is more of the same (grim/necro sound) and it clearly hits a spot.
(3 / 5)
