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Antichrist Siege Machine - Vengeance Of Eternal Fire review




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Reviewer:
8.0

25 users:
6.76
Band: Antichrist Siege Machine
Album: Vengeance Of Eternal Fire
Style: Black metal, Death metal
Release date: April 2024


01. Son Of Man
02. Only Evil
03. Piled Swine
04. Sisera
05. Cowering Lamb
06. Prey Upon Them
07. Vanquishing Spirit
08. Scalding Enmity
09. Lysergic War Psychosis
10. Abyssal Hate

War metal bands do not care for finesse and innovation. The only thing that truly matters is who screams and plays the loudest. This year, Antichrist Siege Machine attempts to rise to the top like a chimp on a mountain of skulls.

I first encountered this duo from Virginia when they were announced for Roadburn 2023. I had to show up since the festival doesn’t have that many extreme metal acts like it used to. In all honesty, describing a live show of theirs is not that different from describing this album or the other two full lengths they have released previously. You see, Antichrist Siege Machine is a war metal band that doesn’t change the formula much from what well-known acts like Revenge, Conqueror, Archgoat and Bestial Warlust have been doing. Then again, everyone is just paying homage to Blasphemy, so there is that. So basically Vengeance Of Eternal Fire is a wild mix of black, death and grindcore: a very blunt beating filled with chaotic drumming, rabid vocals and riffs that either go by in a flash or slow down for a few seconds just to crush you in a different way.

Is there more to it? Maybe a few things! Having nailed a contract with Profound Lore just after their debut likely provided them with a larger budget, which is evident in the production on Vengeance Of Eternal Fire, as it is better than the average band in the style has access to. Some may argue that having a clearer sound defeats the purpose of the genre altogether, but to them I say “chill and listen”. First of all, this is still far away from “clean”. Second, the added groove that Antichrist Siege Machine puts on their riffs is electrifying, and easy to appreciate with such a full sound. The monstrous, gargling vocals are ever-lurking, right where they belong in the mix, behind the chaos of the cymbals and the riffs. It is also easier to enjoy the punky moments that show up from time to time, which are catchy as rabies. When the duo untaps this punk identity, it is not hard to think about powerviolence acts like Nails, but with extra blood and black metal.

At 25 minutes, Antichrist Siege Machine did a great job in killing some of the brain cells that the booze didn’t get first. Vengeance Of Eternal Fire is a filthy and primal slab of extreme metal that nicely manages to be groovy, catchy, engaging and, dare I say, fun from start to finish. Do yourself a favour and go full mönke with me.



Rating breakdown
Performance: 8
Songwriting: 8
Originality: 5
Production: 8





Written on 24.05.2024 by A lazy reviewer but he is so cute you'd forgive him for it.


Comments

Comments: 4   Visited by: 37 users
26.05.2024 - 13:59
RaduP
CertifiedHipster
Staff
IQ dropping
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Do you think if the heart keeps on shrinking
One day there will be no heart at all?
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26.05.2024 - 15:44
A Real Mönkey
Quote:

Do yourself a favour and go full mönke with me.


That’s my secret, doc. I’m always full mönke.


Also ain’t no way that cover isn’t based on the Rubens version of Saturn Devouring His Son.
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"Change the world. My final message. Goodbye."

~Last words of Harambe, seconds before he was shot, according to child he shielded from gunfire
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26.05.2024 - 21:07
X-Ray Rod
Skandino
Staff
Written by A Real Mönkey on 26.05.2024 at 15:44
Also ain’t no way that cover isn’t based on the Rubens version of Saturn Devouring His Son.


Most astute comparison, my fellow mönke. I would suggest that the artist was inspired by both Rubens' painting and Bouguereau's Dante and Virgil.
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Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29
Like you could kiss my ass
Written by Milena on 20.06.2012 at 10:49
Rod, let me love you.
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26.05.2024 - 23:58
Vombatus
Potorro
funny enough, there is a mönke war metal band out there.
but ASM is the real good mönke.
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