Blistering waves of demonic fury assault me from all sides, as quality production and malevolent atmospheres meet in a swirling tumult of black metal wrath… but even as Malakhim’s debut full-length recording, Theion, washes over me, I’m feeling a mite unmoved. Which is a shame, because here is a band that ticks all the requisite boxes: Scandinavian origins, formidable musicianship, just enough raw edge on the production values and a strong sense of black metal heritage in conveying their own personal flavour of dissonant, melodic evil. Perhaps it is because it’s only a first studio outing, but Theion – despite its quality, pedigree and adherence to orthodox black metal fundamentals – comes across as a B-grade Enthroned clone in places or a Dark Funeral copycat in others. For example, “Sple...
