I don't know much about the Netherlands, but I do know they make some awesome black metal. The latest band to emerge from this great scene is Verbum Verus. It was formed by three members of another black metal band named Sauron during their twilight days. After Sauron broke up, Verbum Verus became their main band. They released their debut full-length, Melkiresha, on Halloween of 2012. Melkiresha, according to the Dead Sea Scrolls, is the true name of Satan. (Shaitan, as he is known in Hebrew and Arabic.) This album definitely exudes his essence.
The first half of the first track consists of slow and ominous blackened doom riffs before it transitions into a rapid demonic black metal assault. One of the most prominent elements I noticed was the dark, cavernous atmosphere. It reminded me of Watain and definitely reflects the demonic message the band wants to send. The vocals also remind me of Watain. They have this harsh, pained feel to them that exude a great deal of hate.
The drums create hard-hitting rhythms, switching between slow marches and unholy blast beats, and they make sure to throw in plenty of complex fills to keep the attack unpredictable. Verbum Verus breaks away from the orthodoxy of their peers by having their bass rather high in the mix. The plucks of its four thick strings of disorder can be heard quite well and help give the music greater depth. The guitars are really diverse. They implement a wide range of styles from the traditional tremolo riffs to blackened doom riffs to more disjointed rhythmic riffs. Even here I hear a great deal of Watain influence. The disciple is just as violent and profane as the prophet.
The album ends with a strange ambient piece where the vocalist calls up ancient demons to enshroud the world in darkness. Overall, this is an amazing display of unholy violence that exudes a powerful atmosphere and conviction. I especially appreciated the Watain influence.
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