Amalekim – Shir Hashirim

Written by on 27-06-2025 at 21:28.

Every honest black metal fan remembers the masterful Avoda Zarah album by the Italian/Polish collective Amalekim that was released via Avantgarde Music. Now the four gentlemen are ready with their sequel to this album. This sequel was given the title Shir Hashirim. Once again the four band members use a Biblical metaphor to bring their message and divide their eight songs into chapters as if you are listening to a musical book.

The parable of the two mothers and Solomon, just look at the cover of the new record, is central to this album. All this raises questions. Like why does someone take power? Why would you submit to it? This theme of course has many facets, many approaches. This Amalekim adds alchemical and occult references to this in order to arrive at one whole that should take us as listeners along and once again conjure us up, just like the previous album. It may also give space to critically reflect on these questions above. Perhaps new questions will arise and you should search for answers yourself.

It doesn’t take long before you are completely sucked into the above theme. It seems simple, but by starting with a seemingly simple theme, the opening chapter Chant I: Ra’al Zorem quickly unfolds in a special way. The power of this Amalekim lies not only in the way in which he brings the theme forward through artwork, for example, but especially in the combination of exceptionally fast drum parts and guitar themes that, as well-written storylines (together with the razor-sharp vocals) bring it all to life. In form and color, it reminds me of the Swiss of Aara. Song two, Chant II: Shir Hashirim, culminates perfectly in my eyes what this band stands for. Here again that all-encompassing and all-telling lead part that cuts through everything like a razor-sharp knife.

And those masterful lines just keep coming. Listen to Chant III: Mesharet HaShilton, a song in which a conclave between different vocal parts also arises. Chant IV: Sodot HaYekum takes you on a well-planned journey. Chant V: Tanur Nitzchi lets you hear some occult and ritualistic sounds for the first time before everything is whipped up again at high speed. Well, and so there is something excellent to say about each song.

It is hard to say that this Shir Hashirim is inferior to Avoda Zarah, on the contrary. This Italian/Polish occult, ritualistic black metal collective Amalekim has taken the art of musically girding a difficult theme to a previously unknown height. Year list material, what else!

Score:

90/100

Label:

Avantgarde Music, 2025

Tracklisting:

  1. Chant I: Ra’al Zorem
  2. Chant II: Shir Hashirim
  3. Chant III: Mesharet HaShilton
  4. Chant IV: Sodot HaYekum
  5. Chant V: Tanur Nitzchi
  6. Chant VI: Tisha Daltot
  7. Chant VII: HaKa’as HaNachash
  8. Chant VIII: Mishteh Malkhuti

Line-up:

  • Mróz – Vocals, guitar
  • Azãghal – Bass guitar, vocals
  • Ktulak – Drums
  • Atanor – Guitar, vocals

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