This Polish squadron from the netherworld has been around since 1996, led by first drummer and then vocalist, and now also bassist Baal Ravenlock and guitarist Les. Both are also roaming in the Death Metal machine DAMNATION. DAMNATION has never really caught on to me, though I’ve listened to a few of their albums, in the process of reviewing this new album from HELL-BORN and I have to check the albums out again, some of the madness is hitting me these days. Back in the days, as with DAMNATION, HELL-BORN didn’t do much for me. While re-visiting the older HELL-BORN albums, I wasn’t impressed this time around either. Though this new abomination hits me all differently, with its sheer brutality and fierceness. This is powerful, the vocals are insane, great guitar work, great compositions that are building the ambience quite well into atmospheres sucking in the listeners. Where DAMNATION is fierce, dark, chaotic and brutal Death Metal, HELL-BORN has their base in Black Metal venturing into Death Metal. Brutality and darkness are two keywords here, “VII” is intense from start to the end. Great guitar work, fierce rhythm patterns and brutal and wicked vocals. Distortion and slight off-balance chaos rule the album, together with immense pace and treble. Solid, brutal and in your face with a little finesse. “VII” has taken me with surprise. From the second ‘Therion Calls’ hits it off, after the short intro, with heavy riffing and a punishing rhythm, vocals beyond the grave and a melodic line taking me back to late nineties Norway and Sweden, I was hooked. The great melodic guitar lines are present in most of the songs and are lifting the experience from an all-out brutal excess. There is some great nostalgia to this record, it’ll make a great companion for the long autumn nights. Enter the poignant scenario of horror: www.facebook.com/officialhellborn, www.facebook.com/deformeathing