DARKMOON WARRIOR from Brandenburg, Germany have been playing their raw, energetic and fiercely passionate Black Metal since 1996. Lead by the formidable latest trio of Atom Krieg (vocals, bass), Greifenor (guitars, vocals) and L.V.X. (drums), the band has so far crafted a respectable discography made of several demos, EPs, splits and four full-lengths until 2020. And with this fifth album, “Graveyard Planet”, these German maniacs are continuing their approach again to pull you deep into their sinister realm. Right from the spoken opening moments of ‘Thy Satanarchists’ (“I am not interested whether you like me or not, cause I am anti-social and I don’t like you”), it surely sets the tone of this record and already gives you hints of what awaits inside. The album wastes no time unleashing an onslaught of pummeling riffs, skin battering drum beats and fiendish vocals on the following ‘Age Of Decomposition’. Atom Krieg’s harsh and inhuman roar is a fierce match for the crushing music, so is the triple attack of guitar, bass and drums, that combinedly roar like a lethal force from the very start. If the first two tracks are just a foretaste, then the following ‘Burn Down All’, ‘SM 70’, ‘Omega Legion’ and ‘By The Sound Of Hell’ will explode inside your head and won’t let you escape the tormenting ride. ‘SM 70’ especially is one mega bomb like track, forged in absolute rage and aggression by this commendable trio. You should immediately become their fan if you have not heard them before and if you are an old fanatic, then this will put a broad smirk on your face and make your head nod, with fists up to down madly. ‘Omega Legion’ also needs a special mention, since it feels like a deadly nod to the masters INQUISITION or DESASTER, in a filthy and down tuned black thrashing style, wrapped in a dark awakening melody. It shows their great versatility of already playing for close to three decades. The late end part of the record comes with ‘Magna Matris Mortem’, ‘I Call Death’ and the damned closer ‘Sadomajestic Hatefukk’ to leave your ears fainted and remember their name for long. Assuredly this trio clearly has written these songs as they insisted in their lyrics “We’re omega legion, initiators of the apocalypse.” Obviously, the menacing intro of ‘By The Sound Of Hell’ and dreaded provocation of ‘I Call Death’ shall take its toll on each listener in its own way. From there to the album closer ‘Sadomajestic Hatefukk’, everything is solidly constructed to kneel all under their command on a graveyard planet. Yet for all its aggression, “Graveyard Planet” also dazzles with layers of melody, tempo variations and atmosphere, which creeps in and sends shivers down your spine. The musicians are clearly masters of wielding different intensities, but DARKMOON WARRIOR’s sound still remains raw and primitive after so many years. You can also hear how their songwriting skills have evolved over the years. With a filthy production, that finely suits the sound and essence, from the haunting opening moments to the grimy last note, this album demands your full attention and will be treated as a gem of a record in this era. It is surely a testament to the band’s dedication of crafting authentic and uncompromising Black Metal music for a few decades. All this makes the album a must-have for fans of extreme Metal which will easily please fans and followers alike. So, turn off the lights and let the DARKMOON WARRIOR forces overtake you. More about the band and label at: www.facebook.com/darkmoonwarrior, www.facebook.com/folterrecordsgermany