ATREXIAL from Spain was totally unknown to me so I only had little expectations when I started listening to their debut release “Souverain” as I really enjoy a lot of stuff, I get to review, but to be honest only a few albums manage to catch me for a longer periode of time. ATREXIAL keeps spinning in my player for over a week now in a row, and the reason why this review comes a bit late is that I struggle to put my thoughts into a proper review, as the sound of these three guys is so unique, that making comparisons and descriptions is more than difficult. Their style is a quite melodic Black Metal with a good doze of Death Metal in it. Both styles are combined to a hellish cocktail with some BEHEMOTH or even BOLT THROWER on the one side, before leading into an infernal Black Metal storm. What even makes this album more special is the progressive touch here and there. It seems like the guys are all CYNIC fans and wanted to incorporate this into their sound. The drumming is the best work I have heared in years and together with the massive riff work and the well-thought songstructures enriched by heavy and melodic guitar solos and melodies, the band manages to create a very unique album. Songs like ‘The Ominous Silence’ or ‘Shadows Of The Nephilim Throne’ or the title track ‘Souverain’ are really outstanding compositions and will surely put these guys straight into this years top ten of Black Metal releases. Worth to mention are also the piano parts in some of the tracks which really show the huge talent of the guys and their musical range. Definitely a must have for all fans of varying melodic Black Metal and I am really curious to see, if the guys will be able to beat this hellish debut. For more info check: www.facebook.com/atrexial, www.godzovwar.com