To be even remotely original in such a fleshed out and arguably oversaturated scene is to achieve a special kind of greatness that I can’t help but appreciate top to bottom. It’s not often at all that we come across such a sight in the world of black metal with the likes of Esoctrilihum really being the only example to come to mind after thinking about it for a hot minute. But, like a flash of black lightning out of fucking nowhere, Misanthropic Rage has returned with a new album that’s overflowing with plenty of originality that makes it all but delicious to dig into listen after listen.

If you don’t know what to look for in an original piece, everything simply gels together and sounds the same across many different bands, but it’s only through bands like Misanthropic Rage that we’re able to get a good and proper taste of it in excellent heaps that are as entrancing as they are eviscerating. Every ounce of darkness that’s poured into “Towards the Greyscale Aphorysm” doesn’t once lean on the credentials of the band’s influences or following any sorts of trends that the style has been following in past years. Instead, Misanthropic Rage carves their own path with blood and incantations that allow all eight tracks of their fiery record to feel so incredibly fresh while also immensely familiar for anyone who has actively sought out black metal that’s meant only to purge the very light of the universe. “Towards the Greyscale Aphorysm” doesn’t let you rest for even a moment as Misanthropic Rage is on a constant assault upon life itself whether it be in bursts that last under four minutes to an opus that stretches over nine to bring forth a truly visceral; listen that never even contemplates the idea of mercy.

There is nothing wrong with not being wholly original, but it’s only when we see albums like this that we get an enlightening experience of a different kind as it’s simply something we don’t often get. Misanthropic Rage has summoned a truly scathing record that can’t simply be unheard as it’s a collection of dark hymns that are nothing short of suffocating. Should there be any band with any single album that could stand toe to toe with the likes of Esoctrilihum come the end of the year, I will happily place Misanthropic Rage with “Towards the Greyscale Aphorysm” in that very exclusive club.

“Towards the Greyscale Aphorysm” releases on June 6th via Godz ov War!

LISTEN to advanced tracks from “Towards the Greyscale Aphorysm” on Bandcamp here.

LIKE Misanthropic Rage on Facebook here.