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Crescent impressed the hell out of me with their last album, The Order of Amenti, back in 2018, and I'm happy to say that Carving the Fires of Akhet sees them continuing to do so. They still blast out savage Black/Death somewhere between Nile and Melechesh that contains ominous blasts of crushing heaviness that come with massive, horizon-painting melodies, all of which is supported by excellent musicianship that hits you like the crumbling stones of the ancient pyramids. The only real difference is that it's a little more refined and ferocious than before, and there isn't a single dead spot to be found because of it

While the music would be more than enough, what really helps them stand out is the fact that their lyrical themes are more than just a surface-level fascination with ancient Egyptian. They serve as an exploration of the history and myth of their home, an expression of their heritage that means more than just showing off a bunch of imagery of antiquity just because it's cool. When mixed with an uncompromising assault of sound and fury that blazes across the skies like Ra himself, all you're left with is an excellent release from an excellent band who just keep getting better with time. Fans can get this sight unseen, newcomers can start here as well as any other album, and all detractors should beware, for Crescent have come once again to unleash an all-consuming sandstorm to rend the flesh from your quivering bones.