PANCHRYSIA / ICONOCLASM
The Ultimate Crescendo Of Hell
(Shiver Records)
48:20min

Both bands are from Belgium and both bands play Black Metal, so this output may give you a small survey of the Belgian Black Metal scene. First up is PANCHRYSIA, a band which is active for several years by now and the three studio and one live song really surprised me. One main influence is very present on those songs and that is SATYRICON’s 1999 masterpiece "Rebel Extravaganza". The same kind of "modern" Black Metal, characterized by this diversified song-writing, unusual (compared to the "traditional" Black Metal) breaks and rhythm changes, a voice oscillating between grunts and shrieks and riffs, that can clearly identified as Black Metal, but due to the song-writing are put in a different context. The four songs are a nice appetizer for the next full-length release of PANCHRYSIA. ICONOCLASM, operating since 1994, are taking the listener back to the typical Scandinavian, more "traditional" Black Metal. Fast paced, high energetic, reminding the listener above all of MARDUK. In fact they sound very similar, so do not expect anything that you have not heard on a MARDUK release before. But judging from the four songs ICONOCLASM are definitely on the same level like MARDUK, so I wonder if they have the stamina to keep that on a full-length release. Overall "The Ultimate Crescendo Of Hell" is an interesting release, presenting two bands that are worth to take a listen. http://iconoclasm.blackmetal.be and www.panchrysia.be.

Mirco Szymyslik

Mirco Szymyslik

Related reviews / interviews:
PANCHRYSIA - Dogma (Randolph Whateley)

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