Orgrel hails from Italy and enjoys feeding beasts. Back in 2021, the band still fed a red dragon (Red Dragon’s Invocation, after all, turned out to be their debut album), and now, with the release of their second full-length via Purity Through Fire Records, The Abyssal Terror, they are drawing boiling blood from a lake in an attempt to quench the Beast’s thirst. After all, demons dance on the edge of the abyss – beware!
Of course, everything I wrote above is just my own unfiltered, loose interpretation of the material included with this release. The black metal crafted by these three Italian comrades took on a rougher, less mystical tone on their 2022 EP The Oath of the Black Wolf. This second album, however, marks a return to more esoteric themes. I’m curious. Often, such a return implies the presence of keyboard or synth elements, which I’m not usually too fond of – though a few drops never hurt anyone.
Drummer Vèrfarkas is clearly in complete control of his kit. He even manages to inject a touch of nonchalance and playful cymbal work. Delightful! And it’s something he keeps up throughout the entire album. A minor gripe, however, is the tonal quality of the toms: especially during full rolls, they sound more like pots and pans than actual drum shells.
Still, it’s a small price to pay, because before you know it, another masterfully melodic carpet is laid at your feet. Nefarious Maw and Storming Souls are just two more shining examples. These Italians clearly know exactly what they’re doing. The bass, too, is marvellously mixed – gurgling, growling, and crackling away with unrestrained joy. Often, it obediently follows the guitar’s lead, but not always. The final bars of The Enshrinement of the Triumphant Beast have a very Horna-esque flair.
The Abyssal Terror by Italy’s Orgrel is a particularly intriguing melodic black metal epic. It’s laced with mystic themes, but above all serves as a nod to comrades and kindred spirits who were doing the same thing decades ago, hailing either from Finland or from some other forested corner of Scandinavia. Glorious stuff! A physical copy is mandatory – but of course, you already knew that.
Score:
85/100
Label:
Purity Through Fire Records, 2025
Tracklisting:
- Infernal Pursuit
- Rituals Of The Abyssal Power
- Nefarious Maw
- Horned Tyrant
- The Enshrinement Of The Triumphant Beast
- Storming Souls
- Conqueror Of Forbidden Cosmos
- Steel Storm Apocalypse
Line-up:
- Nihul – Guitar, bass guitar
- Valfodr – Vocals
- Vèrfarkas – Drums
Links: