And so Wisconsin’s own Protestant have once again subtly morphed styles  a shade, once being a pretty standard hardcore band, going a bit more crusty and sludgy , then getting intensely and darkly melodic.  Now, the band is embracing the current blackened hardcore trend, except they are taking the black metal side much more seriously, to the point where the band, other than the deeper vocals, sound like an actual black metal band. Heck, I’m even pretty sure that’s a Church or Cathedral burning on the cover.

Case and point, When opening track “Vengeance” started, I thought I had accidentally started playing a Dark Funeral or 1349 track, that’s how much more visceral and raw these guys are. No disrespect to the likes of Celeste, Young and In the Way, American, Plebeian Grandstand, or label mates, The Makai et al, who I very much enjoy, this isn’t a trend hopping ‘lets use throw tremolo blasts and black metal shriek’s into a mid range blender, this is vitriolic, violent and dark, and comes with the band’s inherent (and prolific) hardcore DIY attitude and work ethic.

Along with the opener , just listen to “Never Forget” , “Forfeit”, “‘Vultures”, and “In Thy Name/Hell’s Insanity” there is barely a thread of hardcore left, other than slightly gruffer vocals of vocalist/guitarist Halo of Flies label owner Cory Von Bohlen.  I actually thought the opening bars of “Carrion” might be a mid era Darkthrone song (there is even a little mid song groove further cementing that sound) . A few slower crusty moments do surface such as parts of “Blood” and more emotive “Delusion”  but for the most part this album careens along with ripping tenacity and ends after a heaving, blistering half hour or so.

And the songs are not short 2 minute hardcore bursts, either. The fury is nice and developed with the 8 songs delivering perfectly timed 3-4 1/2 minute slices of primal, raw and effective blackened venom. I look forward to seeing if the band develops this side of their side further or with their next album make another nuanced shift. Either way, I’m sure it will be another quality and excellent packaged Protestant/Halo of Flies LP.

Is there any corpse paint in Wisconsin?

[Visit the band's website]

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