You gotta be careful with French Black Metal. Yeah, there were the early, raw Black Legions bands such as TORGEIST, VLAD TEPES and MUTIILATION. But then you get into other bands that feel the need to throw out monologues in French, which, you know, isn’t intimidating-sounding in the least. No offense, French Black Metal friends. It’s just the way it goes. But MOONREICH, on the other hand, are all about business. Since 2009, the duo’s released a steady plethora of albums and EPs, staying in the mix without fading. And their new album “Amer” continues the angst the band is so good at conveying. ‘Of Swine And Ecstacy’ (great title, by the way) starts the 43-minute album with a brief intro that erupts into some strong guitars and steady drumming with vocals that sound like a swarm of wasps. It’s the sound of a confident band that knows what it wants and how to achieve it. ‘Amer’ is a rapid-fire, no holds barred track with blastbeats, screechy riffs and a blood-curdling scream that’d make Lucifer shake in his pointy-toed slippers. The third track ‘Where We Sink’ is a fucking maelstrom of chaotic Black Metal glory. ‘Astral Jaws’ shifts gears slightly with a mid-paced track that still sounds fast-paced in its delivery. ‘The Cave Of Superstition’ is slower-paced but yet heavy as all fuck. There’s a little tribal chanting and drums in the middle. But that’s ok. It will still creep and crawl into your flesh like the prior tracks. “Amer” is a beast of a release. It’s just… powerful. That’s sorta the best way to describe it. It’s just fucking powerful. How a duo can create the sound they do is quite an accomplishment. Hails to MOONREICH! For more info, check out www.facebook.com/moonreich, www.facebook.com/ladloproductions