With underground label Pulverised Records having their back now, Pestilential Shadows is ready to unleash their third full length album In Memoriam, Ill Omen to the public. For those who think good and cold black metal only comes from either up North or from America (even though some might disagree with that), you’re wrong. Inspired by koala’s, aboriginals… Oh wait; genocide, disease and death, Pestilential Shadows, all the way from Australia, delivers a fine record once again.

 

The fact that a few of the band members play or have played in a few shitty depressive black metal bands such as Austere and Drowning the Light made me a little skeptical before playing the record. But In Memoriam, Ill Omen turns out to be a great record. I had to get a little used to the slightly dry, cold sound on the record (but which self respected black metal band doesn’t have this?), but the awesome double guitar work from guitarists Desolate and Zameth drag you into the music more with every second. The instrumental parts like in ‘With Serpents I Lay’ (that kind of reminds me of Shining) or ‘Of Loss and Suffering Inherit’ do the atmosphere nothing but good. There even is an instrumental track on the album called ‘Ecclasia Moriendi’. From time to time, especially the atmospheric guitar work, reminds me a bit of Wolves in the Throne Room and more complex Mayhem parts, while the drumming can be compared to Norway's Orcustus and other Norwegian acts. The vocals match the black metal standards as well, but it’s especially the great atmospheric instrumentation that makes this album worth buying.

 

In short In Memoriam, Ill Omen actually is a very surprising album and it surprised me in all ways after checking so many bad black metal lately. With the last few summer days coming up, this is a worthy addition to your check-out list for the cold winter days to come. I’d be interested in seeing how these guys can translate their music to a live performance as well!