Pestapokalypse VI

Prior to buying Belphegor’s latest release, Pestapokalypse VI, I had read many reviews praising its brilliance, some even going as far as saying it’s the start of a new wave in the metal scene, so I checked them out on MySpace where they had a song up from this album, it was called Hell’s Ambassador. Right from the beginning I could tell it had lived up to all the expectations the reviews had set (though I wouldn’t go as far as saying it’s the start of a new wave in metal), the machine-like drumming, the powerful, crushing riffs and the powerful, godly vocals – everything had lived up to the reviews.

Surely enough I went out and bought this album A.S.A.P. After my first listen of this fresh disk I couldn’t digest it all! I had to listen again! And again. And again. Each time better than the last. Each time I discovered a new section hidden under the riffs or a surprising drum beat or an interesting vocal pattern, I knew this was the beginning of a lifelong love for Belphegor!

Songs like Hell’s Ambassador, Angel of Retribution and Pest Teufel Apokalypse are incredible – easily some of the best material I’ve heard in the genre. Every member in this band is extremely talented in what they do, the guitars are wonderful; the tune of the distortion is great, not overly distorted but enough to know that they mean business, it compliments everything else going on in the music, they are defiantly the backbone of this record. The vocals are nothing special by themselves, in all honesty. But combined with the guitars, drumming and bass – holy shit! In other words; they are similar to the vocals you’d find on a later vader release; powerful, deep yet understandable. The drumming on this album is out of this world, I don’t believe it needs an explaination – just listen!

The one thing wrong with album, which critically lowered the score, is the songs sounds too alike; many riffs are constructed using similar fretwork and not to take and the drums lack variety, for example, in The Ancient Enemy the drums are more or less different examples of a blast beat. By complaining about this I’m making it sound like a bad album, which it is far from.

I can’t judge this release compared to Belphegor’s previous efforts – but this surly has to be their best release, I can’t see how they can top this album. I recommend this album to any fans of blackened death metal, in particular, bands in the vein of Behemoth or Infernal War, you’re going to love this, believe me.