I remember hearing the name KONKHRA back in the day. Somehow, I never managed to get any of their music. I mean, these were tape trading days. But finally I got around their excellent debut album “Sexual Affective Disorder” and then their “Facelift” 7″. Dense, dark, fast and heavy as hell Death Metal. Then I lost track of the band until I checked their back catalogue. At some point, the line-up included musicians such as James Murphy, Per M. Jensen and Chris Kontos. I think that the late ’90s saw the band exploring and incorporating other sounds akin to that era. So far in the 21st century, KONKHRA has put out three more albums: “Reality Check” in 2003, “Nothing Is Sacred” in 2009 and “Alpha And Omega” in 2019. These albums were also pivotal for the band as they developed their style and sound. Now in 2024 and thanks to Hammerheart Records, we get “Sad Plight Of Lucifer”, their latest release. And with basically their classic line-up reunited, KONKHRA has again combined their barrage of influences and their experience in an album that features some solid and sharp Death Metal. Vocalist / guitarist Anders Lundemark is the sole remaining member from that first line-up from 1990. The other current members, bassist Martin Rolighed Patterson, drummer Johnny Nielsen and guitarist Kim Mathiesen were in the band in the mid / late ’90s too. With such a solid foundation, KONKHRA’s sound keeps evolving, shifting and twisting to a more varied style of extreme Metal also incorporating the influences they carry from their long standing career. And performance wise, these guys know what they are doing. They are all excellent musicians and it shows throughout the album. The production is stellar, with no other than Tue Madsen behind the desk. If you don’t know who that is, you have been living under a rock for the last 20 years. The guitar tone is sharp and detailed, with the bass pummeling its lines and tightening the bottom end of the spectrum violently. The drums are punchy and aggressive. I dare say I would’ve used a tad more natural sound in the drum department, but who am I to say? And then again, I really don’t like when the mastering is so pushed onto my face. Even if this is Death Metal, I want to hear and feel the dynamics and nuances of the different elements. But then again, who listens to this old fart? “Sad Plight Of Lucifer” is a solid, modern Death Metal album from an experienced band that has been around for a while, showcasing a bunch of different influences and ever developing their style. www.facebook.com/konkhraofficial, www.facebook.com/hammerheartrecords.