At the tail end of 2019, right before the world as we knew it ended, German blackened speedsters Diabolic Night came ripping into the collective consciousness of the metal underground with their debut full length, Beyond the Realm. More than just another soulless rehash of first wave black metal tropes, this album quickly became an end of year favorite, serving as the soundtrack to my evening jogs and exercise sessions (something I need to get back to doing, but I digress), the savage intensity and devilish vigor matching the crisp, unforgiving late autumnal cold.
As the years went by, I’d revisit this album from time to time and ponder the obvious: What the hell happened to Diabolic Night? Well folks, our answer has arrived in the form of their long awaited sophomore album, Beneath the Crimson Prophecy. This brings us to the next question: Was it worth the wait? Absolutely and then some. I don’t say this lightly, but upon first few listens, BTCP surpasses its predecessor in every possible department, from songwriting and arrangement to musicianship and atmosphere.
For those out of the loop, Diabolic Night are far from your average black/speed revivalists. BTCP boasts an elevated spin on the genre akin to At War with Satan era Venom and Polish cult legends Kat. Think blackened speed with flourishes of traditional metal and the bombastic atmosphere of early epic metal. This is made overtly evident on the compelling opener “Tales of Past & Mystery”: A unique hybrid of true metal sounds, guaranteed to get the hearts of headbangers pumping. This wild approach is utilized effortlessly on cuts like “The Sacred Scriptures” and “Voyage to Fortune”, the latter bordering on the tenebrosity of early ’90s black metal AKA the Norwegian sound.
Make no mistake, Diabolic Night has a real knack for the ambitious, taking us on a black metal adventure with grandiose suites like “Starlit Skies” and the closing “Arktares Has Fallen”. Ripping outbursts of speed are contrasted by classic metal soloing and an arcane zeal, making for one unforgettable listen. Interspersed, however, are equally enjoyable black metal throwbacks. The aptly titled “Vicious Assault” is the most straightforward cut on this album, channeling the primitive aggression of Teutonic thrash circa ’85. Meanwhile “Pandemonium” is a rather unexpected homage to atmospheric black metal in its infancy, akin to Dark Medieval Times era Satyricon.
What’s most impressive about Diabolic Night is not simply their ability to write extravagant pieces and amalgamate various strains of pure metal, but rather their propensity for doing so while cranking out memorable songs. Just like Beyond the Realm before it, BTCP boasts riffs, hooks, and passages that are bound to be seared into your brain, coupled of course with an unforgettable atmosphere. It’s for these reasons that Diabolic Night have, yet again, released one of the most compelling albums of the year. Between this album and the new Cirith Ungol, I’ve been absolutely spoiled. Here’s to hoping the next album I review is a fraction as glorious as either.
10 out of 10
Label: High Roller Records
Genre: Black/Speed Metal
For fans of: Venom, Kat, Hellripper