| Barathrum has long stood as a pillar of Finnish Black Metal, and with Überkill, their tenth full-length, they once again prove why their name is synonymous with primal, bass-driven destruction. Stripping away some of the doom-laden crawl of earlier works, this album erupts with raw energy, leaning heavily into aggressive Black/Thrash territory while maintaining the band’s signature ritualistic atmosphere. Seven years after Fanatiko, Demonos Sova and his coven return with a record that is as feral as it is infectious, channeling the purest essence of underground metal barbarity.
From the first moments of Death by Steel, Barathrum makes their intent clear—thunderous basslines, wretched howls, and a thick, oppressive sound that could crumble stone. Mountain of Bones takes an unexpected but welcome turn, injecting punk-infused riffing and stomping rhythms that demand headbanging compliance. The sinister churn of Spark Plugs of Purgatory pulls from the most primitive strains of ‘80s Black/Thrash, laced with an ominous, churning groove that solidifies Barathrum’s continued mastery of dark and unrelenting soundscapes.
As the album unfolds, Black Magick Rites and Ritual Murder reinforce the band’s command over ritualistic blackened chaos, their compositions built on raw simplicity yet oozing menace. White Red Black and Pale slows things down, drenched in eerie atmosphere and cavernous distortion, leading into the blasphemous charge of Denial of God, where the band’s venomous spirit reaches new heights. The massive Dark Sorceress 3 (Spring Siege) stretches beyond seven minutes, weaving hypnotic riffs with eerie vocal incantations, making for one of the album’s most spellbinding moments. The title track Überkill then closes the album with one final onslaught of distorted madness, a fitting capstone to this ruthless offering.
Überkill is everything one expects from Barathrum—ugly, unpolished, and packed with an unholy energy that defies time itself. Whether conjuring the spirit of first-wave Black Metal, embracing filthy Thrash rhythms, or invoking the occult essence that has always fueled their work, this album is another triumph for Finland’s most unrepentant blackened horde.
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