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| #FOR FANS OF: Black/Death |
The Swedish black metal scene has always been synonymous with quality and true loyalty to the pillars of the genre, and Malakhim is, fortunately, not an exception to this rule. Founded almost ten years ago in the northern city of Umeå, Malakhim released a powerful debut album entitled 'Theion,’ which caught the attention of the scene and established the pillars of a hopefully long career. The remarkably solid compositions of that album showed that the band had a clear idea of how they wanted to sound.
Four years later, the Swedes return with the always pivotal second opus entitled ‘And in Our Hearts the Devils,’ again under the umbrella of the well-known label Iron Bonehead Records. The fans who enjoyed ‘Theion’ have no reason to worry about the new album, as Malakhim continues to play its remarkably intense form of black metal with no room for weird experiments that could ruin the final result. The production continues to achieve a great balance in terms of actual good production, where one can enjoy the different instruments, but it is clearly inclined to retain a certain degree of rawness that fits Malakhim’s music perfectly. From the album opener "And in Our Hearts the Devils," the listener will appreciate this tasteful combination of fury that does not lack a melodic touch, particularly in the mid-tempo sections. The composition contains a good amount of tempo changes, combining a good variety of them, from relentlessly fast-paced ones to quite calm sections, and the aforementioned mid-tempo parts where their best melodic riffing shines. Malakhim has put some effort into composing this album, which you can clearly observe in how solid the compositions are regardless of the level of intensity. If you like pure fury and a bit of dissonance in the riffs, a track like "A New Temple" will delight you for sure. If, on the contrary, you prefer a more melodic touch, a song like "Sola Crucifixion" is the perfect choice with its headbanging-inducing pace and the tasteful melodic riffing.
E's vocals are another highlight of this album, as he masterfully performs his trademark shrieks, sometimes combined with different approaches that can be closer to semi-growls or a slightly clearer tone, even though he always remains within the realm of the extreme vocals you expect from a black metal band. The rest of the album continues with a similar sonic pattern, which is not a problem, as it consistently reaches a very high level. Both the guitars and the rhythmic sections are excellently composed and work together seamlessly. The different songs flow naturally in terms of intensity and pace, creating compositions that will satisfy the most demanding listener.
'And In Our Hearts the Devil Sings' is definitely a satisfying milestone in Malakhim’s career, as its excellent result will confirm the Swedish band as a project to be closely followed by fans of the genre. The level of inspiration and passion can be felt throughout the album, making it one of the best albums of this year in the black metal scene. (Alain González Artola)
(Iron Bonehead Productions - 2025)
Score: 87