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 Ars Veneficium
"The Lurking Shadow of Death" (Immortal Frost Productions, 2024)

To Belgium we fly, shall we? Easily would hop on a plain and indulge myself in all those amazing beers they have. These lads truly know how to craft beautiful Trappists. But music is the subject of today’s writings.

Ars Veneficium, former quintet and now reduced to founding members Ronarg (Antzaat, Bloedmaan, Ronarg) and Surtur (Immortal Frost Productions, Hammerstorm). “Usurpation of the Seven”, their last LP was released in 2020, and it was “just” the confirmation that their sound is very solid and a guarantee of excellent Black Metal. What mostly struck is how reminiscent of old melodies their sound is. Ars Veneficium is, at heart, a Melodic Black Metal band, but the overall melody is immense! I dare say this is their best album to date, and that is saying a lot, considering their previous releases. 

At times you get a 90ies feeling, completely a 90ies feeling. The melodies are never complex and always straight to the point. The album has power, you can almost feel it burst through you! The balance between melody and aggressiveness is there, completely there, and it makes all the difference, the bloody difference! Does it help that the lead guitarist is the man behind Bloedmaan, where melody is also set before you in a very delicate, yet furious, way?

Truth is, I have listened to this release various times, always on loop, and I can find something every time. Wait! No, they do not reinvent the wheel nor rework Euronymous’ scriptures, but they are good, very good! I see it as a full piece, in the sense the album is the sum of all the tracks, and not just a multitude of tracks put together, d’you know what I mean?!

After 4 years, these lads decided to release a new record. I honestly wish they do not take another 4 years until their next one is out! With that, go listen to it, you twat! This is Melodic Black Metal at its best… minus the weak stuff. Just the manly elements and that…

Ars Veneficium Official Bandcamp

Immortal Frost Productions Official Bandcamp



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