That is exactly what Kvltist delivers: fierce, chaotic and harsh black metal, drenched in absolute darkness. This band from Dusseldorf and Kreuztal, Germany has been around since 2013 and this debut should definitely provide them with a spot of Europe's extreme music map. Why? Well, I feel that Kvltist isn't just another old school black metal clone. This is deeply personal music, terrifying yet with a decent sense of melody.
Of course, the album is loaded with brutal riffs, hammering blast beats and a decent amount of screams and growls. But it also has this deep, underground occult feel that is become quite rare these days. In that aspect, I'm often reminded of Mörk Gryning or Unlord, two bands that really stood out for my in the extreme scene of the nineties. On the other hand, Kvltist seems to have opened a gate between old school black metal and today's post-metal scene.
The overall sound clearly nudges towards the traditional forms of the genre but this band managed to pitch in some trance-inducing passages, driving on repetitive and immersive riffs and drums. Furthermore, tracks like 'Devotion' and certainly 'Darkest Light From Glaring Shadows' show some great song writing skills. I especially like the second of the two songs I mentioned just now. Although, I have to say that 'Eucharisty Of Death Divine' incorporates some of the greatest riffs I've ever heard in this scene.
So you might indeed see this album as a great blend of black metal styles (illustrated perfectly in the massive song 'Oblation'), including not only the two bands I mentioned earlier but also Rotting Christ, Immortal and Thy Primordial (who made one of the greatest black metal songs of all time). If you're into for some extreme devil worshiping, this surely is one of the necessary soundtracks and if you just like a decent slab of black metal once in a while, you should also buy this thing.
Serge