Satanic Slavery is the latest release from French black/death metal horde Necrowretch, who despite some line-up changes and switch to a new record label (now on Season of Mist) have persevered and delivered a really solid album that will please any fan of brutal blackened death metal. Much of the album has a decidedly old school feel, with speedy burners like "Tredeciman Blackfire" and "Sprawl of Sin" tossing out vicious blast beats, hellish vocals, and wealth of tasty yet rampaging riffing at the listener, reminding of some of the classic sounds of the glorious Scandinavian black & death metal acts. The manic title track is a relentless barrage of fury, while "Evil Names" adds some monstrous doom to the crushing death metal framework. The piledriving closer "Verses from the Depths" (great title) is pure maniacal black metal in the grand Norwegian tradition, and a great way to pummel the listener as this album hits its climax.
Perhaps not the most original extreme metal album you'll ever hear, but Satanic Slavery is still a very cool listen, plenty brutal, with kick ass arrangements and spine tingling vocals. Can't ask for more than that!
Track Listing
1. Sprawl Of Sin
2. Tredeciman Blackfire
3. Satanic Slavery
4. Evil Names
5. Hellspawn Pyre
6. Bestial Rites
7. Curse Of Blasphemy
8. Verses From The Depths