[a short review, yet about an interesting release for sure]
Almost two decades after their debut album Eternity, Israeli act (no, let’s not start a polemic about current conflicts) Azamoth finally return with their sophomore full-length, Bellum Nostrum. Fifteen years in the making, this second album does show the progress this band made throughout the years. Everything was recorded and mixed by the band’s bass player Ratimus at the Pill Sound Design studio, while the result was eventually mastered by the semi-famous Maor Appelbaum (think: Arallu, Dagor Dagorath, Mayhem, The Monolith Deathcult, A Pale Horse Named Death a.m.o.).
For this release, Azamoth signed a contract with Symbol Of Domination Prod., the Moldovan side-label of Satanath Records. Besides the digital opportunity, there’s a jewel-box compact-disc as well, limited to 500 copies, which comes with an eight-page booklet. The visual art is courtesy of the famous illustrator Christophe Szpajdel, probably (one of) the most prodigious designers within the scene for many years. The cover concept, in black and blood-red colors, represents Apocalypse and Armageddon, and that does indeed deeply fit to the sonic content of this album.
And what is that sonic concept? Well, Bellum Nostrum offers thirty-eight minutes of hyper-dynamic, intolerant, frosty and devastating yet still melodious and atmospheric Black Metal. It’s the ‘timeless’ approach in essence, the kind of Black Metal that is universal at the one hand, yet rooted within the purest origins of the scene.
The better part is energetic, fast and powerful. The speed varies from up-tempo to blasting fast, yet with a huge amount of changes in speed and several acceptable breaks. Swords Of Conflagration is a nice example of the ingenious balance in types of rapidity and vigor. The harsh, never-time-to-rest tempo strengthens the furious and maniacal message that defines Bellum Nostrum, ‘our war’ (once again, I do prefer to avoid political controversy, for this article deals with a musical review) (yet still, the title is so topical). Besides, it comes with an all-devastating sound quality, characterized by a well-balanced mix and a meticulous production. All elements are equably represented: lead and rhythm strings, vocals and drums + percussions. It’s so nice to notice that the influence of the bass-lines is parallel to the soloing six-string lines, or to hear that the vocal narratives (what a sulfur-spitting throat!) do not overpower, nor are inferior, to the merciless torture of skins, cymbals and sticks. The riffs are sharp like a scalpel, the rhythm section thunders and crushes, and the vocal chords must have been cultivated in a breeding pond of battery acid, magma and molten lead.
A couple of semi-acoustic parts (mind that majestic intro to Riding With The Blizzard Storms, a true epic symphony – and for what it’s worth, it might be my favorite track on this album), a modest amount of vocal variations (some death grunts, a hint of clean chanting, a few shouts, you know…), injections of Blackened Death and Blackened Thrash Metal, a fine balance of heroic pride and almost arrogant violence; Bellum Nostrum is modestly enriched by different details and elements that prove this project’s highly-qualitative existence.
I mentioned a reference to the ‘traditional’ scene. Well, that’s not unfair at all, I think. Also the promotional press description by distributing company Satanath Records mentions bands like Immortal, Mayhem, Marduk, Blodsrit, Ragnarok, Dark Fortress, Lord Belial and Gorgoroth as recommendation. In some choices I do follow this idea, why not. Yet I think that Azamoth are searching for an own sound, a distinctive approach, and I guess they might get there. But indeed, every ‘fan’ of these aforementioned acts might pay attention! This stuff will injure your brain, your neck-muscles, your mental health too; yet then again, it is worth it!
https://symbolofdomination.bandcamp.com/album/sodp164-azamoth-bellum-nostrum-2025
https://satanath.com/sodp/item/sodp164
https://azamoth.bandcamp.com/album/bellum-nostrum