Black metal is the sort of thing that’s so multifaceted it can take on an infinite amount of forms and be transformed into many different, distinct styles and it’s brought many bands great success through experimentation. But sometimes simplicity is the best approach, and it’s the smaller bands that know how to capitalize on it that truly keep the genre alive. An example would easily be Devil’s Emissary whose upcoming EP is no less than a glorious slab of the inextinguishable black flame.

Don’t get me wrong, to create an album that can only be described as black metal is no easy feat no matter who you are. You could be a veteran of the style and still easily stumble upon a creative process and inherently throw together something that’s unsatisfactory. Young bands are especially guilty of this, but it’s the groups like Devil’s Emissary that keep that spark alive and “Demiurge Asceticism” is a pristine example of such. The unholy blackness is the sort of thing that I can’t get enough of if it’s presented in a good way, and to say that this EP is good enough would be all but a gross understatement. “Demiurge Asceticism” from gruesome beginning to vicious end is an absolutely raw experience that holds nothing back, keeps you guessing as to what’s coming next, and it keeps the ritual going into territories that you’d never expect. And while there are only three tracks in this roughly 20-minute excursion, Devil’s Emissary doesn’t disappoint one bit as they rely on classic tropes of black metal to propel their power forward as well as bringing the pain in such a delicious way that’s been done before, yet it still feels fresh and ripe of use during the unholiest of ceremonies. We see amazing examples of intense vocals coupled with fantastic instrumentation that comes together to create a very meaty piece of black metal that can’t be denied no matter what one might try to do.

There are tons and tons of promising bands out there in all of metal, and Devil’s Emissary is definitely one of them without question. Black metal is one hell of a genre to try your hand at, and after two full lengths and now at least one tasteful EP, I feel comfortable saying that this band knows precisely what they’re doing and they know how to deliver! “Demiurge Asceticism” is a very tasty slab that has plenty of parts to pick through, and I’ve nothing but expectations for these guys.

“Demiurge Asceticism” releases on September 9th via Third Eye Temple!

LISTEN to the first track, “Black Hole Meditation”, on SoundCloud here or below.