There’s something about ascertaining a truly raw sound that has always amazed metal fans of all kinds throughout the underground ever since metal had begun taking some of its more extreme forms. Nowadays, you could scour the very floor of the underground for days upon days and never come across the same act twice that attempts to bring such a concept to life in some form or another, but many simply sound like poor recordings done in somebody’s basement trying to pass it off as purposeful atmosphere. It’s only on occasion do we manage to be gifted a band that can actually do the concept of being truly raw enough justice without sounding like an unfinished demo, and I felt more than confident in feeling that Barbaric Horde was such an act when I first heard them two years ago. Now, with their second full-length album, they’ve only increased my confidence when it comes to their particular brand of visceral glory.

To truly embody a sense of being truly raw and unyielding, it’s not hard to come to the conclusion that you have to sacrifice the very production quality of your music at the end which is something that many still struggle with trying to find the right balance of in the end, but it seems that Barbaric Horde found their own personal sweet spot for it when they did their first album with this new offering of medieval-like terror feeling much more honed in and refined despite still being a true onslaught for the senses. There is always a goal in death metal to sound quite murderous, by all accounts, in some degree or another even if you find yourself mingling with other styles like Barbaric Horde does here with black metal, but it’s the very essence of “Barbaric Hammer Fist” that we’re able to really see what it means to take that goal to a truly fleshed out reality. Whether it be from the devilish riffs that are straightforward and precise or the sheer approach that’s as vicious as the jagged edge of a war-torn ax, it’s hard to walk away from all that Barbaric Horde brought to the table for their sophomore full-length and not feel like they truly went out of their way to create a potent offensive that delivers on all of what it means to be utterly raw and undeniably horrific.

It’s not hard to quickly come to the conclusion that Barbaric Horde is in a league of an entirely different breed when it comes to all that they brought forth for this record as it expands upon its predecessor while still remaining true to the original, terrifying vision that the band originally had for themselves. There are no true survivors who come out on the other side of this oppressive creation born to see blood and marrow fly through the air as the screams of dying men fill the dead space between with the very name “Barbaric Hammer Fist” all one should ever need to know what kind of performance this madness brings forth.

“Barbaric Hammer Fist” releases on June 10th via Godz ov War Productions!

LISTEN to advanced tracks from “Barbaric Hammer Fist” on Bandcamp here.