Although it is a constantly evolving sub-genre the most vocal and notable war metal heroes are often the most orthodox and for good reason. The classics of the genre represent a bestial conception, a raw first wave black metal event that few have improved upon, at least without straying heavily from the source. My introduction started with Beherit and Sarcófago and it’d still be several years before I’d come across the cult phenomenon that is Blasphemy. Though they really only released two full-lengths and haven’t recorded more than a handful of songs within demos/rehearsals since the early 90’s yet their sound and influence continues to resonate through the sub-genre they played a large part of popularizing. As a live presence they’re a unique and brutal force and a big part of that is the vocals of Nocturnal Grave Desecrator and Black Winds who makes up the Blaspham– part of Blasphamagoatachrist.

The goat– portion comes from two thirds of Brazilian war metal band Goatpenis including mastermind Sabbaoth (bass) and Virrugus Apocalli (guitar). I discovered Goatpenis in 2005 and didn’t get past the first few songs from ‘Inhumanization’ (2004) before moving on, so I can’t claim to have kept up with their discography since. I’d honestly always thought they were a ‘joke’ band until 2014 or so. Here on Blasphamagoatachrist’s first demo ‘Black Metal Warfare’ they provide a ripping performance anchored by Antichrist drummer Incinerator of Lacerated Angels and Coffin Destruction aka The Inciter of Armageddon aka T. Antichrist. So I think the major draw here is for fans of Antichrist and Blasphemy as fans haven’t heard much from either camp for several years, if you don’t count the brilliant-but-brief ‘Extermination Mass’ (2016) by Death Worship or that weird as fuck power electronics/noise demo from Suppurated Fetus.

‘Black Metal Warfare’ is a clear and ripping professional demo with a sound as democratically influenced as the name Blasphamagoatachrist is. It shreds and howls and thrashes hard alongside the most classic bestial black metal that inspired each musician. I hear Warfare Noise as much as I do ‘Brazilian Ritual – Third Attack’ and Virrugus Apocalli‘s nods into death/thrash and classic first wave black metal make for an eventful repeat listen. It passes the litmus test for good war metal as I’d burned out on the riffs far before the adrenaline of the performances wore off. A solid demo at around 20 minutes, the intro and outro add to the experience, and everyone involved seems to be on top of their game. A must listen for war metal/bestial black metal folks.

Ripping up dead corpses. 3.5/5.0

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