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DIABOLICAL EVIL
Black Magic Force EP

Self-released (2021)
Rating: 7/10

Here are five tracks of speeding, scathing Brazilian thrash from this one-man band which only came to fruition last year.

I was first introduced to Diabolical Evil via the Evil Command demo earlier this year; lapping up the vigorous snaps of their satanic speed metal chaos. Nothing has changed this time round as Rodrigo, aka Infërnäl Ridër, swashbuckles his way through an armoury of bullet belts, spiked leather wrist bands and inverted crosses to spew forth a cauldron of wild gems.

The opening title track, although influenced by the second wave of black metal, sounds like it’s been ripped from some old 80s demo as Rodrigo goes hammer ’n’ tongue with that frenzied percussion and nifty axe attack. However, amidst the speed there’s a wonderfully retro streak of black melody, evoking New Wave Of British Heavy Metal themes and Teutonic galloping. But it’s the vocals which surprised me the most, and it really took a few spins for me to get used to those shouty expressions. Maybe I expected something rawer or remote, but Rodrigo’s style is punky and a tad unorthodox.

This EP speeds by with haste, and at only 26 minutes in length this was never going to be an expansion composition. ‘Blackmoon’ is a flurry of speeding dynamics whereby chaotic soloing ensues, and those vocal hollers echo around the black, cavernous walls.

‘Moonspell Rites’ is equally bewitching and bewildering in its tumultuous trundling, where all guns blaze frenetically but with controlled chaos. And that’s the theme throughout; hyped-up rollicking South American metal riddled with flashing speed, and yet a strong spine of stark melody.

My favourite track is ‘Cursed By Blood’ which begins as a brilliant traditional metal slice before merging into a speeded up rendition of Ozzy Osbourne’s ‘Bark At The Moon’!! Meanwhile, closer ‘The Eternal Night’ has a steely flair of the epic as percussion tumbles and chords stride majestically. But it’s only a matter of time before we are swept up by that tight speed ball effect as Diabolical Evil runs amok with its somewhat predictable yet flesh ripping style.

Daubed in old school aesthetics and high on black leather fumes and smoke, Black Magic Force provides enough deadly strikes and whip lashes of severity to remind us why Brazil has always been such a hot bed for the harsh and hellish.

Neil Arnold

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