There’s almost always something special about a band’s debut whether the members are highly experienced or first-timers with that first work being able to capture the raw emotion and the ferocity of the band in question to exquisite effect. Where Affliction Gate pulled the curtain on their respective career, some of its members refused to stay quiet as they joined forces with some from Catacomb to create a death metal band infused with fiery thrash that could melt the skin right off the bone. With but six tracks and yet immense ferocity, Nox Irae does not disappoint in the slightest.

It’s clear going into this morsel of an EP that Nox Irae understood that just having six tracks isn’t going to give them a lot of time to make a lasting impression if they don’t make it work, and to say that they blew it away with “Here the Dead Live” would be a true insult to the work that’s constantly eviscerating and devouring here in every capacity. With tremendous riffs in one hand and a scathing usage of thrash that perfectly sheets this visceral offering, Nox Irae truly cracks open this debut with malicious intent with a real purpose to show us just what exactly they’re made of as it’s nothing to scoff at in the slightest with a grand understanding of the genre that can’t be denied with a power that only makes it all the better. The whole of “Here Live the Dead” is a truly unrelenting listen that gives us plenty of what we could come to expect from these veteran members, and it’s with this new name that they can take on the world yet again with such ferocity and renewed spirit that makes every single track here all the more delectable as they destroy all in their path so that it’s when they leave all there is to be are the dead.

Every year is always kind to people like me who love a good debut, and 2019 has been exceptional in that regard and it’s with Nox Irae that we’ve gotten yet another tremendous example of that with death metal that can’t be denied with talent that I’m sure is already voraciously working on more material. “Here the Dead Live” is a powerful testament all on its own, but it’s just the beginning for this toxic band.

“Here the Dead Live” releases on November 15th via Transcending Obscurity Records!

LISTEN to advanced tracks from “Here the Dead Live” on Bandcamp here.

LIKE Nox Irae on Facebook here.