Band: Hiems
Title: Worship Or Die
Label: Moribund Records
Distribution: x
Release date: February 15th 2011
Review: CD (re-release)

From the sunny Piedemonte-region in Italy we salute Hiems. However, no sun included here, just bitter cold and autumnal depression…
The project started in 1996 with the moniker SN, but sole member Algol changed it into Hiems (Latin for ‘winter’) in 1997. Algol is known from different other grim underground projects, such as Kult, Mek Na Ver, Forgotten Tomb or Frangar amongst others. Both live and in the studio he works with session musicians. Live on stage he was helped out for a while by Spite Extreme Wing-members Argento and Azoth, and the debut album, Cold Void Journey (2005, Iso666), was recorded with one of Italy’s best known Extreme Metal drummers, Gionata ‘Thorns’ Potenti, involved with tens of bands like Antares Predator, Tundra, In Extremo Spiritu, Frostmoon Eclipse, Glorior Belli, Deathrow, Handful Of Hate etc. This second album too was created with additional assistance of some sweet names, amongst whom guitar player Razor SK (Congregation Of Misery, Front Towards Enemy, session for e.g. Forgotten Tomb and (The True) Gaszimmer), studio meister and guitarist Daniele Mandelli (who did work with e.g. Viscera/// and Spite Extreme Wing), and drummer Massimo ‘Fog’ Altomare (think Glorior Belli, Daemusinem, Mortuary Drape, Dead To This World, Black Flame, Spite Extreme Wing and many others). The album was finished in Autumn 2008 and originally released in 2009. Later this year, the band will bring out a new studio album via Moribund Records, and now we can enjoy this masterpiece again.
After a short intro, Hiems brings uncomplicated and ‘traditional’ yet very obscure and merciless (melodic) Black Metal. Nothing renewing, that’s a certainty, yet written, composed and performed with craftsmanship. The buzzing songs are filled with changes in tempo, melody, song structure or atmosphere, and the production / sound is unpolished, which is ideal, isn’t it? Many bands come to mind, from Balrog to Lord Belial, from Satyricon to Grimness, and from Spite Extreme Wing to Watain. Indeed several Scandinavian bands – many parts do actually sound ‘Nordic’.
There’s much to say about every single track, but I’ll only mention the title track specifically. Why? Actually, listen and you’ll understand.
[note to those who care: it’s the only song I don’t like]
More than once, the album comes with industrialised elements, then again with a groovier approach, and some riffs are bloody Death Metal-inspired. And the few intermezzos put a modest smile on my face. It makes Worship Or Die a strong album, and therefore a logical re-release – and I do look forward to enjoy the sophomore release.

82/100

Ivan Tibos.