The years between 1930 and 1947 are incredibly monumental years for a number of reasons. WWII was a pivotal time in world history, and the rise of fascism was the impetus for the United States to get involved (among other things.) Within Black Metal there lies a hole where politics turn blood red in minutes. This is where Kommandant lives.

Featuring members from Nachtmystium, Forest of Impaled, and  Cianide, that’s to name a few; Kommandant is a formidable band, and on Exhibition of Conquest they are literally like feral dogs on the hunt. For what exactly, I’m not sure but… I guess that’s part of the mystery.

Anyway, this EP is a bit different from their previous album Titan Hammer in the production being more beefy on that album, like the knobs were turned up a little more; I’m no producer I’m just saying that on Exhibition of Conquest, there’s less oomph. That might make sense.

“Reborn into Violence” gets the show going with decidedly lethal force. It’s a raging track reminiscent of Marduk’s Frontschwein and Viktoria albums, and a perfect kick starter for Exhibition of Conquest. With this being a five-song EP it’s easier to talk about the individual tracks and after that initial beating comes the first sort of suspicious songs.

“Arsenal” sports choruses from two old German army drinking song(s) “Aufruf des Schinderhannes” and “Des Wotans schwarzer Haufen” that were once covered on an Absurd EP called Grimmage Volksmusik… let that sink in. If you read Lords of Chaos you’ll know that Absurd are dodgy as a bad curry and it makes me wonder where Kommandants allegiance lies. They’ve stated (like Infernal War) that they don’t dig fascism in any form but, c’mon guys… whatever sinks your U-Boat I guess. It’s a slow-burning effigy of fascism, that begins with a riff that could have been on Viktoria probably in between “June 44” and “The Last Fallen”. It also brings to mind Reign of Erebus and their Humanracist album.

“Zweikampf” (Duel), is a pretty straightforward thrasher, not much interesting going on, honestly. When bookended in between “Arsenal” and third track “The Standard”, “Zweikampf” works great as a filler track, while “The Standard” has more of a Marduk has a bastard child with Infernal War track. It carries 4400 pounds of death and a grooving center section that moves along in grand fashion, rolling thunder across a blood-soaked No Man’s Land.

The final track “Exhibition of Conquest” has that Marduk feel wrapped up in spades. A crawling under barbed wire type of track, fraught with tension. With its haunting chorus line “we await the arrival, of the Liberators” it has a Paris 1944 feeling to it, except in that instance it was the Nazis entering the city… not much of a Liberation, but it is what it is.

The artwork is as cold as the wastelands, done by Francesco Gemelli (Darkspace, Spite Extreme Wing, Forgotten Woods, Abigor…) Spite Extreme Wing carries its own infamous notoriety, espousing right-wing Italian hatred throughout their handful of releases, and there’s a pinch of similarity between the sound on their Non Dvcor, Dvco album from 2004 and that of Exhibition of Conquest.

Overall, Exhibition of Conquest is a pitch-black metal release. The instruments are suitably raw and the hatred just leaks from the speakers. If you like this sort of suspicious music, you probably like some bands that I cannot mention here… however, you can have Marduk as a safe place, if that makes sense. Taken as a solid Black Metal release it’s a fun ride, there’s enough to keep your attention which is what matters. Check them out if you’re so inclined, you won’t be disappointed.

[Visit the band's website]

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