
In any case, listening to this record feels a bit like standing near ground zero of a nuclear explosion. "Pathogenesis" is the second album of Ukraine-based outfit Chapter V:F10. Their first album,"Syndrome", was released in 2015, and well received by extreme metal fans everywhere.
With this new record, the band easily surpasses their previous effort. "Pathogenesis" features four lengthy songs, completed by a couple of shorter instrumental parts, making the record easier to digest. The overall mood of the record is icy and threatening, with the fragile piano melody in “Blame to human beings” as the sole exception. Apart from that, most of the time the band fires on all cylinders, with furious blast beats propelling the songs. Of note is also "Helvetestoner", a cover originally played by Swedish metallers Armagedda. Obviously this new version is cleaner than the original, because of better production and machine drums.
The projects' mastermind, Astaroth Merc, is better known for his work with Atmospheric black metal outfit Raventale. While Raventale’s music is rather upbeat and melancholic (think space metallers Mesarthim et al.), Chapter V:F10 is a different affair - the music is Intensely heavy. Only a few melodic passages here and there remind me of Raventale. On vocals is Howler, who also collaborates with Astaroth Merc in their more experimental band Virvel av Morkerhatet.
Koen