CORPUS DIAVOLIS from France are lurking around since 2008, they released four full-length albums plus two split releases and one EP so far. As with its predecessor “Apocatastase” the well-known French label Les Acteurs De L’Ombre Productions is also responsible this time. And as the playing times of the albums become longer and longer, the quality of the music also continues to increase. And that is fascinating, because the previous records were anything but bad. In principle, not much has changed, it is more the case that CORPUS DIAVOLIS have refined even more details. No matter whether it is the singing, the songwriting, the guitar work, the drums or the use of synthesizer – everything is pushed on a higher level. The quintet from Marseille presents a mix of traditional Black Metal, paired with epic elements, Death Metal influences and more atmospheric, dark passages. Where a band like BEHEMOTH meanwhile gets lost in self-referential, self-satisfied vanity, CORPUS DIAVOLIS have not lost their compass and convey emotions like aggression, melancholy, fear and malice. And everything on a very complex, but at the same time intelligible level. The songwriting is perfectly balanced between the various elements, there are no spoken words parts, no keyboard use, no guitar solo just for its own sake, but everything is used to serve the song. I have not heard such a gripping and exciting album in a long time, one that takes you to the dark side of life and the netherworld. A great album which every Black and Death Metal fan should give a listen to. www.facebook.com/corpusdiavolis, www.facebook.com/ladloproductions