From the land of filthy unpretentious black metal done heinously well, Flame vomit forth their sophomore release March Into Firelands, released in the states by the venerable Hells Headbangers, and it’s a pretty intense, if extremely familiar listen.  I say familiar, because to be honest, we’ve all heard everything that’s going on here countless times before, but that’s not to say that it’s cliché at all…just familiar.  Perhaps too familiar.  Basically, if you’ve ever heard any Nifelheim or the closely related (both in membership and sound) band Urn, you’ve pretty much already heard this album.  It’s a punishing attack of lo-fi warring blasts with some stomping thrash chugs (“Doomed…” impresses) drenched in reverb, topped with the snarling, venomous blasphemy of vocalist Blackvenom, who sounds a bit like Desaster’s Sataniac.  It’s well done and is over before you know it, but I can’t really say that it stays with you very long.  Fans of the label, and of black thrash and black/death will love it, but casual black metal fans won’t find much to grasp on to.

TRACK LISTING

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*Comments:

1.  Black Realm of Satanas
2.  Doomed…
3.  Burning Horror
4.  Fireland
5.  Rites of Endless Hatred
6.  Destructive Saint
7.  Flaming Magic Assault
8.  Gateway to the Birth of Lunacy

Total playing time:  36:02

Release Date: January 5, 2011
Label: Primitive Reaction /
Hells Headbangers

Flame - March into Firelands

Reviewer: J. A. Burt

May 3, 2011