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 KING

“Fury and Death” (Soulseller Records, 2023)

2023 has been a great year, in my opinion, for Black Metal with clean production and grandiose sound. Bands are not afraid to lay down tremendous melodic lines of empowered Black and Death Metal with these massive guitar riff to go along with! It reminds me, in a way, of how some of 90ies Black Metal was: melodic, powerful, spectacular. There was no need to make yourself sound “bad” and “dirty”, melody was a must and the listeners enjoyed that, and although the true origins of the genre rest in “dirt and viscera”, there was always this “cleaner”, and almost artistic side to it.

King is an Aussie quartet with years of experience, and that is heard, especially and in my opinion, in how they mash the Death Metal elements with the Black Metal ones. One quickly thinks of Dissection when asked to name a band that fits the formula, and that is completely correct, but… I find it hard to actually meet that balance. I am hard to please, yes. “Fury and Death” is a very well-balanced, and immensely dynamic, set of songs. One swiftly reaches its closure, and not because it is not a good record, but because it is a very “easy to get into” record. Once we press PLAY, we are smacked in the face with this wave of power and energy. The melody thrown at you, from those guitars, along with the massive drums, leaves in awe.

Faster moments, slower parts, aggressive riffs, melodic licks, this record has it all, in all well-proportionate. Not innovative, this record intends to show a band playing their music at a high level, with class, and that is all I ask for, honestly. The band delivers the goods, and we love it!


KING Official Bandcamp

Soulseller Records Official Bandcamp



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