Belligerence is a new and emerging force in the Berlin, Germany, underground scene. Formed in 2022, the death metal band released their debut demo, The Wretched, in 2023. A year later, they released their first EP, Eschaton Foretold. In a few days (May 29th), the band will release their second EP, Liturgies of the Vile Ones, via the Lycanthropic Chants label on digital, CD, and vinyl formats.
Liturgies of the Vile Ones is a five-track EP totaling 24:43. Belligerence presents straightforward death metal rooted in an old-school sound; the track Reign Through Defilement is a perfect example of this influence. Tempo changes add a more nuanced structure. Within this sonic frenzy, a few melodic moments emerge through well-executed solos. At other times, the guitars slow down with a heavy rhythm, as on The Travesty. Overall, the atmosphere remains dark and menacing. This atmosphere is felt on Vengeful Slaughter and becomes even more imposing on the eponymous track, Liturgies of the Vile Ones.
The guitars are fast, sharp and dissonant. Solos feature on tracks such as Self-Mutilation Abjured from 3:38 and Reign Through Defilement from 3:42. But the most remarkable one is on Vengeful Slaughter from 3:09. The guitars performance becomes more intricate on the track Vengeful Slaughter. The drums charge ahead at full speed while remaining perfectly balanced with the guitars. The drumming is particularly noteworthy on Reign Through Defilement and The Travesty.
The vocals alternate between growls and high-pitched screams. Several screams are noteworthy, for example on the track Self-Mutilation Abjured starting at 2:20 and on The Travesty starting at 4:25. The vocals also take on a grind-inspired pig squeal style, as on Self-Mutilation Abjured starting at 3:10 (the most prominent). The vocals stand out and make a powerful impact on the track Reign Through Defilement, particularly the scream starting at 3:20 (the best on the EP).
Among the moments I particularly enjoyed was the drum performance on The Travesty starting at 1:18. I liked the atmosphere and composition of Reign Through Defilement from 2:30 onwards (it's my favorite track). The atmosphere and composition of Liturgies of the Vile Ones are captivating in their more elaborate and evolving structure, a moment I listened to several times.
I highly recommend Liturgies of the Vile Ones; anyone who enjoys old-school death metal as much as I do will find plenty to enjoy here. It’s an EP that delivers raw, compelling death metal, with a dark atmosphere that never feels excessive
