1914 are back with another gut-wrenching, terrifying blackened death metal album centered on the horrors of World War I, determined to drag you straight into the trenches. The songs on Viribus Unitis follow the path of a Ukrainian soldier through the brutality and grim virtues of war, conveyed with ferocious, pummeling intensity. It explodes out of the gate with opener "1914 (The Siege of Przemysl)" and builds toward a crushing midpoint with the shapeshifting stomper "1916 (The Südtirol Offensive)" and the thunderous assault of "1917 (The Isonzo Front)," which grinds you into submission. The guitars are loud and vicious, the rhythm section drives a punishing, relentless pace, and the roaring vocals command the battlefield.

After the halfway mark, the tone shifts slightly. The more monotonous "1918 Pt. 2: POW (Prisoner of War)" and the experimental piece "1919 (The Home Where I Died)," featuring Jerome Reuter of Rome—while I understand the appeal—don't do much for me, making the first half feel stronger and more aligned with expectations. I do, however, appreciate the evocative, gloom-laden "1918 Pt. 3: ADE (A Duty to Escape)," a powerful doomy track featuring the distinct baritone of Aaron Stainthrope of My Dying Bride.

Even with a slight dip in the second half, Viribus Unitis stands firm despite minor flaws and delivers a cohesive, rewarding listen. 1914 thrive on intensity and confrontation, and while I could do without some of the experimentation, this is an album that leaves a mark.