RSS Feed


ATROCITY
Okkult III

Massacre (2023)
Rating: 9/10

After a five year silence the German metal masters return with another hefty slab of snarling destruction. This is the band’s 11th full-length studio outing and it’s one which pretty much confirms what we already knew, that Atrocity is a force to be reckoned with and one that remains unrivalled.

I’ve always been excited by the albums these guys have coughed up and it could be argued that Okkult III is their finest hour. Dripping with commanding segments of orchestration and drenched in a seething Gothic atmosphere, this opus unravels like some brooding, ancient force that once fully unleashed twists and turns like some colossal titan.

There are numerous guest musicians on this opus which add to the already boiling, rich ingredients, but for me it is the simpler dynamics which really hit home like on the vile riffing of ‘Fire Ignites’ and the occult-daubed potency of ‘Bleeding For Blasphemy’. Subjects vary, with the war-torn savagery of ‘Born To Kill’, while the paranormal-influenced ‘Faces From Beyond’ strikes hard with its heart of darkness.

Atrocity is a versatile beast indeed. At times you get a Slayer-esque whip, or a dose of Morbid Angel, Death or Asphyx-styled brutality, and yet we are then treated to the malevolent execution of ‘Malicious Sukkubus’ which features the vocal talents of Zoë Marie Federoff (Catalyst Crime / Cradle Of Filth) and Elina Siirala (Angel Nation / Leaves’ Eyes). This track sets a steady pace but is steeped in atmosphere and Gothic orchestration.

Another standout track is ‘Cypka’ which concerns Polish serial killer Josef Cyppek; a perfect accompaniment if you will to Slayer’s classic ‘Dead Skin Mask’ with its suspenseful build up and stabbing percussion. Elsewhere, ‘Lycanthropia’ is a hammering, all guns blazing black / death assault and closer ‘Teufelsmarsch’ – featuring Robse Dahn (ex-Equilibrium) and Misstiq (Earth Caller) – is an absolute juggernaut; hats off here to drummer Joris Nijenhuis whose tirades are relentless.

This is one of those cocksure records that snarls, sneers and lays waste to all comers. Everything about Okkult III feels epic and powerful, even with those symphonic streaks which add to the fervour and brilliance.

Somehow stretching beyond the death metal dynamics and encompassing all energies and flavours, Atrocity’s latest album is a brutal inferno consisting of devilish torrents and unflinching ferocity, and yet all the while maintaining high levels of atmosphere and storytelling to consume the listener.

Neil Arnold

<< Back to Album & EP Reviews



Related Posts via Categories
Share