When I first made my New Year’s resolution to expand my listening habits to include more black metal, I honestly didn’t think I’d abide by it. It’s like giving up something for Lent. You pick something you despise so you won’t miss it and the man upstairs is satisfied. However, with bands like Kampfar, Black Harvest and now Infestum, it’s getting harder and harder to deny interest in such a diverse genre.
Infestum began in 2000 with more of a Pagan Metal sound to their music. But after several years and lineup changes, their music has taken the shape of more traditional black metal, albeit with some industrial and mechanical overtones. This is apparent on tracks like “Iron Hammer Upon the Skull of a Slave” and “Zero Beyond.” Accents of keyboards can be heard accompanying the growls and screams of vocalist Ion the Saint. Meanwhile other tracks, like “Obsidian Exile,” contain a certain groove to them. To the point that I found myself slowly nodding my head along to the song’s opening salvo. Factor in all of this and lyrics depicting sacrifice, the afterlife and paintings made of human blood, and you have the makings of a memorable black metal experience.
You can stream the entirety of Infestum‘s latest in the player embedded below. Moments of Exalted is on sale now via the Infestum Bandcamp page for a chilling $6.66.
