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SULPHUR AND MERCURY
Alchemia Prophetica EP

Time To Kill (2024)
Rating: 7.5/10

I had not heard of Sulphur And Mercury before but couldn’t help but be drawn to this EP via the cover art. I wasn’t sure what to expect, I guess in my head I had some sort of stuffy mid-80s Euro metal weirdness, and at times that’s what you’ll receive but mostly you get served a batch of aggressive, thrashy songs led by the almost deathly snarls of vocalist and ex-Dying Fetus and current Misery Index man Jason Netherton.

Somewhat of a strange journey then for the American to front this Rome-based outfit, but the result is certainly of interest. In fact, Netherton brings a John Tardy (Obituary) drool to proceedings as the band churns out a zipping brew of thrash and metal not quite fitting of the cover art. Even so, it’s an enjoyable romp that is reasonably raw in its approach as guitarist Francesco Conte (Spiritual Front / Nero Omega), bassist Marco Mastrobuono (Hour Of Penance / Buffalo Grillz / Inno) and drummer Dario Casabona (Griefbringer / ex-Schizo) craft occult-tinged metal that begins with a John Carpenter-esque vibe intro (‘Presagio del Maligno’) before ‘Invoke The Adversary (Pugnali di Megiddo)’ kicks in, bringing with it occult lyricism and an 80s metal feel without diving into the nostalgia, if that makes sense.

There are hints of Mercyful Fate in certain parts of the axework throughout, and so the fusion with the deathlier nuances certainly makes for an intriguing listen and keeps the dynamic fresh. For added atmosphere ‘Veneral Levitation (Voci dall’aria)’ begins with a spooky organ wheeze before a slow and sinister Slayer-esque harmony strikes. This is the band at their most creative as they fuse barking vocals with meandering solos and catchy, mid-paced melody. It’s as if Obituary created a demon child with Mercyful Fate.

‘Lightless Slumber’ begins with a fantastic traditional hook before the slurring vocals take over. It’s the sort of marrying that shouldn’t necessarily work, but it does in sublime fashion. Meanwhile, the cover rendition of Satan’s ‘Heads Will Roll’ is awash with mesmeric soloing and those dehydrated gasps.

Don’t be surprised if your first few spins of this six-track debut EP doesn’t quite allow you to settle, but sit with Sulphur And Mercury for a while and I’m sure you’ll appreciate its unorthodox contents.

Neil Arnold

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