Among the albums on my review list is Reinventing Evil by the death metal band Okkultist. I can’t remember how I came across this album, but if I’ve put it on my review list, it must be one I found interesting. The band hails from Lisbon, Portugal. Formed in 2016, the band first released an EP, Eye of the Beholder, in 2017, and in 2019 they released the album Reinventing Evil via the label Alma Mater Records in digital format and on a limited-edition CD of 750 copies. (the band also released a second album O.M.E.N. in 2023)
So, Reinventing Evil is a death metal album that fits into a violent, fast, raw and dark form of the genre. The guitars are fast and sharp, the riffs are highly effective, and the solos are dark and macabre. The drumming is striking, with several blast beats that draw the listener into a ferocious soundscape, as on Sniff the Blood from 2:03 or on Sign of the Reaper from 3:50. Frequent tempo changes are also present, most notably on Sign of the Reaper from 1:09 onwards. And all of this is evident right from the first track, Reinventing Evil. I felt some thrash metal moments at the start of the track I Am the Beast. The band also presents us, at the end of the album, with a successful cover in every respect of Satan My Master by the legendary Bathory.
Vocally, it’s not just muffled growls, but a balance between growls and high-pitched screams, whilst keeping the lyrics intelligible. Among the best vocal moments, note the end of the track Back from the Dead, as well as the scream on the following track, Sniff the Blood, from 0:24 and 3:01, with a tormented, abyssal vocal performance. On Grave Digger, I think the vocal performance is at its peak, with an unnerving vocal delivery that evolves as the seconds tick by. On this track, it exudes a truly malevolent aura. Production-wise, the album features a modern production style that has managed to retain the raw edge the band presents.
Among the standout moments, the intro to Back from the Dead had me headbanging, a moment I particularly enjoyed. The acceleration of the instruments from 1:57, followed by an impeccable solo from 2:19, works perfectly. The vocal performance on I Am the Beast from 2:03 also impressed me. I also appreciated how the musicians flirt with black metal at the beginning of Plasmodium. I really liked the solo on Rise and Reign from 3:45, which lasts for several seconds.
Reinventing Evil is a merciless album on every level. It makes me want to explore the rest of the band's discography and keep an eye out for their future releases. The Portuguese band has delivered authentic death metal, combining sonic aggression with a sinister atmosphere. I think the album is worth checking out for worshppers of dark and occult death metal, as well as black metal.
