This is the debut full-length from Conqueror, a Canadian band whose previous release was a split CD ("Hellstorms of Evil Vengeance") with Americans Black Witchery. Conqueror play grinding Black Metal in the Blasphemy vein.

I've been eagerly awaiting this CD (as well as Black Witchery's debut) for a while now, due to the excellence of the aforementioned split release. Now that it's had time to sink in, I must give highest accolades to this band. Conqueror deliver relentless extremity here, completely destroying my every expectation.

The overall impression is one of speed, since the majority of the album is spent in blast beats. This is a style that can get old fast if done badly, but this disc held my attention for the entire album. The songwriting is really quite good, especially the slower breaks - they show an impeccable sense of timing, and lend a lot of variety to the songs.

As for the musical performance itself, the vocals are a rather ordinary Black Metal snarl, but fit the music well. The real standout here are the drums... the performance is inhuman! The drums have also been moved to the front in the production mix, a genius idea that really heightens the brutal nature of Conqueror's attack. I must also mention the band's use of occasional voice and sound effects, as these were quite excellent. The only negative point I can find about the album is the sparse packaging... I would really have liked to see the lyrics.

This album is a most impressive first release for this band. I'll look forward to their future work. For fans of Blasphemy, Sacramentary Abolishment, Beherit, or the split with Black Witchery, this release is most highly recommended.

Standout tracks: "Hammer of Antichrist", "War Cult Supremacy", "Command for Triumph"

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