Malakhim - Theion (2021)^{Release ID: 25785}

I have spent a totally unplanned large amount of time this year actively keeping up with new releases.  Whilst I won't pretend that in a normal year I do not bother with any new releases, it is unusual for me to be able to put together a top ten of in year releases, let alone a top twenty-five like I am currently able to.  As I have said before, keeping up with new releases can be a thankless task and I have historically found myself just consuming music because it is new and this so often leads to disappointment on a large scale. However, 2021 has been a strong year so far and as we get into October I have started to look at washing up some of the albums I had previously missed during this busy year.

Malakhim's debut full-length has had a few spins here and there throughout the course of the year, never quite impressing me enough to warrant a regular rotational spin whilst also not completely alienating me either.  It is obvious that there is real bite here that is not blunted by the simple use of melodies or black 'n' roll rhythms; the Watain comparisons although inevitable are not entirely accurate in terms of the overall album sound.  Simply put though, having already digested the excellent release by Mork this year before I even got to Theion and similarly having had copious helpings of Spectral Wound's A Diabolic Thirst (both of which came out after Malakhim's effort), the itch that the Swedes debut scratches was already more than satiated.

In reality, Theion is just as strong as Katedralen though. In terms of authentic and accessible bm, Malakhim have this near melodic yet still frantic black metal sound nailed on.  Reminding me of a much colder latter-day Varathron in the vocal department, whoever the fuck sings on here clearly knows their stuff.  Haughty and breathy rasps accompany the tremolo picked riffs really well and a solid backdrop of thumping drums and thunderous bass complete the sound nicely.  It just lacks a slight edge of "oomph" as I alluded to earlier and this is what pegs it behind the other two albums that I mention here.  Check out though the furious opening to Hammer of Satan and tell me you are not moved in some way shape or form (and if not then please check your pulse).  It is more of this elixir that the band need to consume in order to make Theion that bit more special and be able to slug it out with the other two giant releases of the year in the same genre.