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I was quite taken by the recent Transfigurations split between Infernal War and Kreigsmaschine, two of Poland's better underground Black Metal bands, and so I thought it best I check out their respective releases. First the debut from Infernal War, and it's certainly not the kind of Black Metal you take for a stroll in the woods, but rather one you beat your kids to. Brutal, hyper-blast percussion a la Marduk and Horncrowned, thrashy riffwork courtesy of Setherial and In Battle, and sweeping, mind-melting solos thanks to Absu and Morbid Angel. Warcrimer's vocals are a throat-ripping rasp, mid-range for once, and the songs themselves are at breakneck speed, with a foot constantly on the gas. It's apocalyptic stuff, and though it's a short album, it's the type of thing you want when you feel like breaking somebody's jawbone. When the band calm down and go for a more dignified attack (during "Salvation"), you can see how capable Infernal War are as a unit, but they rule the roost when they are stripping your skin, which they do for most of their debut.

The guitars sound nice and nasty, and the solo work is very flashy, but the drums have a horrible tinny sound that pushes against your brain after two or three tracks. It's not an album you'll return to often, but if you've got a spare half hour and feel like being aurally raped, Terrorfront is certainly the ticket.