The last time I ran across German black metal act Chaos Invocation, I wasn’t particularly kind to them. I reviewed their 2009 Debut, In Bloodline with the Snake, and hailed it ‘predictable, generic’ and with an utterly forgettable first half.

Oof. What a dick.

So why did I grab the promo for the band’s 5th album? Especially as I have not heard any of the prior three after the debut? Well, full disclosure, I glanced at the promo email and thought it was ‘Chaos Inception‘ the black/death band from Alabama.  It wasn’t until I started listening, and checked the band name again that I went back to see my old review of the debut. Second, I’ve been digging German metal in 2024 with the likes of Asharhaddon, Dauþuz, Opus Irae, Kanonenfieber, Suffering Souls, Far Beyond, Atronos, Unhallowed Deliverance, Stiriah and label mates Servant.

Then there’s the fact the album comes out of the gate red hot with the album title track, immediately grabbing my attention and then I decided to stick with it, and I’m glad I did, as Wherever We Roam….is a blisteringly solid black metal record.

If you are into the simpler, more direct, less symphonic, slightly melodic stylings of the second wave of black metal, with bands like Dark Funeral, Funeral Mist, Watain, 1349, and such, this album is for you. It is just frosty razor-sharp riffs, upon frosty razor-sharp riffs. No synths, and a few atmospheric segments, but otherwise this is blisteringly slicing black metal, with a perfectly searing Woodshed Studio production (Secrets of the Moon, Obscura, Sulphur Aeon, The Ruins of Beverast).

The second track, “Ideal Sodom” is the perfect blend of viciousness and melody, before the third track cools off the album’s white-hot start with the mid-paced march that dominates “Golden Gates And Terrene Light”  before “Bridges Aflame” unleashes another absolutely scorching number, with a bristling Celtic Frost -ish groove mid-song. 

The rest of the album is simply perfect, modern black metal. From “No Throne Withstands”, to the moodier (for the start) “The World Wants Us Dead” with some clean vocals, searing “Only In Darkness” with its subtle synth use and more clean vocals, and more ritualistic, atonal closer “Engravings On A Gleaming Pedestal”.

Hey you. Chaos Invocation dudes, I hope this makes up for my dickery back for your debut. Absolutely brilliant stuff.

[Visit the band's website]

---

Comments