By bite or blade-fed sacrifice the bloodied necromancy proposed by United States-based black metal trio SEV LEZU on this neatly realized debut EP compels the ear into its sub-genre lead embattlement. Using thrashed out tension is its gluey conjoindre ‘Blood Conscript‘ details the band’s fusion of melodic black metal, death metal and grindcore inspiration toward a taut and sometimes technically shot result. Succinct to a point of great polish and necessarily repeatable as a result this first showing from the band already reads as pro stuff, well-formed and right on the cusp of a breakthrough take.

Sev Lezu formed back in 2022 by way of vocalist/drummer Sasha Stroud (Belexum, Onw) who’d been inspired to alchemize the intricate soul discharge of Scandinavian melodic black metal with rhythmus additionally informed by classic deathgrind and death metal. A core trio line-up would form soon after as they’d spent a couple of years realizing ‘Blood Conscript‘ via celebrated guitarist Melissa Moore (Sonja, ex-Rumpelstiltskin Grinder) and bassist Funeralwhore from black-thrashers Manat. A total of five songs (+ two interludium) from those efforts are presented here, outlining in fine detail their unique merger of moderately sophisticated melodicism and high-speed black thrashing aggression.

On paper you’d think “grinding melodic black metal” might sound something like Niden Div. 187 but in Sev Lezu‘s collective hands it is a far more contained, focused event wherein Stroud references Dissection, earlier Sargeist for voicing alongside quick-changing percussion inspired by later Death and Terrorizer. Songs average roughly ~3-4 minutes and appear in energetic bursts, barely detangling their tension throughout each spastic event as they are torn through. Opener “The Stillborn” is probably the most complete feeling thought in this regard, sparing no corner of the suggested concoct in its racing melodious streak. The infectious “Corpse Step”, co-penned by ex-Impiety bassist Mia Priest, expands said melodic language into brooding n’ bouncing movement as those first two songs show some serious interest in melodic black metal’s jaunty dramatism.

The next two pieces additionally reflect Moore‘s scratchier, spiraling technical hand (which fans of ‘Abzu‘ will appreciate) especially the unfurling of title track “Blood Conscript” and the racing runs anchoring the black-thrashing construct of “Revenge”. These pieces contrast with the first couple of songs on the EP initially but in the context of Finnblack-tainted closer “Man’s Evil Gift” all is more-or-less merged by the end of the record. My only complaint here is the inclusion of “The Ritual of Bone and Blade”, no issue with the interlude as is but its placement interrupts the momentum of the full listen offering no clever segue.

Maintaining intensely detailed work within quickly fleeting pieces ensures Sev Lezu‘s snappier take on melodic black metal benefits from repeated listening with most every piece calling for another pass outright. Their materialization of the intended fusion makes good sense in generation of these hook-readied songs though I would consider it black thrashing melodic black metal more than anything grind related thus far. Vocals offer little additional personae here, the bass guitar is largely background coloration, and one shouldn’t seek the pitch black odium of the old ways here as this isn’t a throwback fueled ideation.

‘Blood Conscript‘ makes a fine first impression as a choice alternative to increasingly riffless modern melodic black metal takes, impact which is made all the more compelling via cover art from Tara Atefi, invoking something like the fallout below Helm’s Deep. Though it begs for heavier use of repetition in some cases and doesn’t take full advantage of the golden melodic swiping found throughout Sev Lezu‘s work here impresses with a thoroughly considered, brilliantly performed vision. A high recommendation.

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