Label: Independent
Genre: Death Metal
Length: 17:06
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Today, we're off to Catalonia to introduce you to a real gem discovered this year: Stench of Sorcery, a death metal one-man band founded in 2024. That same year, the project released its very first EP, Unseen Battles. At the beginning of 2025, Stench of Sorcery were back with a second opus of 17:06 minutes, Spellcaster - and it was precisely through this release that I immersed myself in the band's sonndscape.
You can read my interview: “I'm Not a Big Fan of Modern Metal... Though It's Fine If People Make It” Jaume Roca of Stench of Sorcery
Musically, Spellcaster is a melodic death metal album with a few well-measured black metal influences. Melodies play a central role on this record, as they do on the opening track At the Black Mountains of Evil. The rhythm is highly dynamic, skilfully alternating between slow passages and fast acceleration. On the vocal front, Jaume demonstrates his mastery, varying between high-pitched screams, deep growls and some narration. At certain moments, notably around 2:12 on At the Black Mountains of Evil, I even thought I could hear a direct influence from Morbid Angel - the passage instantly reminded me of God of Emptiness.
One of the highlights of the EP is the melodic introduction to At the Black Mountains of Evil, which immediately establishes the dark, disturbing atmosphere typical of black metal - an atmosphere that lasts, in fits and starts, right to the end of the track. On Spellcaster, the passage at 3:37 stood out for me because of its rhythm: the tempo drops sharply, only to pick up again in a fraction of a second, thanks to perfectly executed drums, and remineded me of old school death metal.
My favourite track, however, remains The Colour of Magic, notably for its intense vocal performance and the percussive surge from 2:35 onwards. Finally, on the last track, Eternal Flaming Tower, two notable accelerations (at 2:33 and 3:13) break up the monotony of the track and infuse it with raw energy. The track also contains another demonstration of strength from the drums.
With Spellcaster, Stench of Sorcery successfully fuse the aggression of death metal with dark melodies and black metal-inspired atmospheres. Without seeking to invent a new sub-genre, Jaume Roca Roca offers a personal, nuanced vision of death metal that is not content with pure brutality.