Balefire – S/T (Eldritch Death Metal)

 

I’m gonna start out by saying the only complaint I have with this debut EP, or whatever you want to call it, is it’s too damn short. Goddamn it guys, when you come with this much dark violence I expect longer! I demand more! Continue the beating! Beat me into the ground! Pummel my face until it goes from red, to purple, to black! Don’t leave me hanging at just a few slaps, for the love of God! Well, being that as it may, we have to turn up our copamine dose to make it through the fact that this ripping debut is short, and you’ll totally ignore the length of it once you realize how many damn times you’ve listened to it! Summon those eldritch evils from the times before the age of mankind with the power of Balefire!

   

The new side-project of Incantation bassist Chuck Sherwood, Balefire summons some of the most hellish of creations with words best poured from the mouths of cursed misanthropes. That’s my analysis of the cover art, by the way, which reminds one of the darkest parts of old sword and sorcery tales. Regardless, and being real, there’s a ton of power in this short S/T. After a frightful intro placing the listener on a barren cliff strewn with bones, when Balefire gets moving, and we’re talking within a minute after the build, the tracks come and go with a fury that will have you putting the whole damn thing on endless loop. I’d call this all Satanic, like the label did, but that feels too wimpy of an idea to place upon the great Balefire, so let’s just stick with eldritch. Who’s scared of Satan anymore, anyway? With more aggression than five full-lengths from a band long established, you won’t come out of this one without the brandings of ancient gods.

 

Written by Stanley, Devourer of Souls

Balefire – S/T
Iron Bonehead Productions
Cover Art: Brvja XIII
4.7 / 5