Malphas – Extinct

Written by on 19-04-2025 at 09:05.

Malphas also comes from Switzerland. Also? Yes, recently I wrote about their compatriots of Ghörnt, a black metal band that released its latest album via the Dutch Soulseller Records too. Besides this, the same record store, there are some other similarities. Mr. J from Ghörnt, for example, is also in this Malphas. Furthermore, we detect band members who are in Aara, Chotzä and Taubra. This to make it even more complex and to show that there is also quite a bit of inbreeding in the Swiss scene.

This Extinct is Malphas’ album number four and we have reviewed their previous album Flesh, Blood & Cosmic Storms too. On that album Malphas could be labeled as an all-destructive black metal machine just like the examples mentioned above. Presumably and hopefully nothing has changed in their recipe for this new one.

In the review of the previous album I wrote that these Swiss do not only bring all-destructive black metal, but that there is also a fair amount of black and roll elements in their compositions. Elements that the gentlemen immediately show on the opening track of this new long player Psychomachia. The gentlemen J and Raven Dust who are responsible for the vocals, bring them with gusto. They also leave enough space for the music to tell the story and that can also be seen as an art form. Mr. J immeditiately shows he is not awkward on the drum stool, in the opening bars of Eradicate.Manifest.Define. He keeps it nice and cheeky. A little further in the song and certainly towards the end, playful guitar playing is displayed. Well done!

Acoustic guitar violence pulls you into the muddy ditches while a magical moon looms from behind the horizon. This to indicate the first songs of this album are so strongly written that your attention hardly slackens (or not at all). Not even in a song as Majestic Moon which brings exceptionally beautiful and profound piano playing. And with the fourth song it is already clear this is a masterfully brutal and delicious album. I also note that you should not forget to listen thoroughly to the dynamics in Gamygyn but also to the well-considered soloing in Butcher’s Broom.

Extinct by the Swiss black metal maniacs Malphas is one hell of a record. It blasts from front to back and back again. It is so brutal, aggressive and all-destructive that you immediately feel like molesting something, starting with that lousy mailbox of one of your neighbors down the street.

Score:

90/100

Label:

Soulseller Records, 2025

Tracklisting:

  1. Psychomachia
  2. Eradicate.Manifest.Define
  3. Trenches
  4. Majestic Moon
  5. Consumed
  6. Gamygyn
  7. Butcher’s Broom
  8. Armada Christi
  9. Astral Dissonance

Line-up:

  • Näbugring – Bass guitar
  • Xezbeth – Guitar, piano
  • Raven Dust – Guitar, vocals
  • J – Drums, guitar, vocals

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