Some five years since debut album Canonisation of the Foul Spirit, French Black Metallers Hell Militia return with the bleak and foreboding Last Station on the Road to Death that follows on from a recent bout of live dates back in April that included an acclaimed London show. The line up of Hell Militia is a Black Metal Supergroup of sorts and comprises Meynach – Vocals, T. Persecutor – Guitar, Arkdaemon – Guitar, LSK – Bass and Dave Terror – Drums who between them are also members of ANTAEUS, ARKHON INFAUSTUS, MUTIILATION and TEMPLE OF BAAL.
Hell Militia are not in any rush to build their claustrophobic atmospherics and the swamp like dirge of "born without light" and "the ultimate deception" take their time in reaching boiling point. Meynech's tortured vocals are well to the fore in the mix as he rants and rages against the apparent pointlessness of life itself that makes for something of an unsettling listening experience. Dave Terror's frenzied drumming enhances the pulsating bottom end and the album reaches a pummelling crescendo of despair with "the pig that became a god" and the closing title track. If you like your Black Metal to be modern, creepy and depraved then this is a must have CD.
Track Listing
always the same
born without fight
unshakeable faith
et inferno ego
the ultimate deception
fili diaboli
shoot knife strangle beat & crucify
the pig that became a god
last station on the road to death