Been about a month now since HELLISH GOD’S debut full-length album The Evil Emanations (January 8, Everlasting Spew Records) landed in my lap so I’ve had quite a while to sit with it. Following their 2016 EP Impure Spiritual Forces, this time around the music is conceptually focused on Qlipoth, metaphorical shells which represent evil spiritual forces in the Jewish mysticism. Now I don’t claim for one minute to know what that means. What I can tell you is that Death Metal in 2018 is off to a great start! The band is made up of current and former members of ANTROPOFAGUS, IMPOSER, and MINDFUL OF PRIPYAT, so obviously the musical pedigree is there. But does that translate into good songs? Glad you asked.
Over the course of eight full tracks the band definitely shows that they can hit hard without being a one-trick pony. “The Hindering Ones” is probably one of my favorites, though I do find myself gravitating towards a different one every day depending on my mood. Another surefire winner is “Tagimron is Summoned” because between the music and vocals it could quite possibly be the soundtrack to someone being ripped in half from being tied to two trucks headed in opposite directions. That sort of thing, where I can imagine a tune being the background music to death and dismemberment, always makes it a good one.
Opener “Qlipoth” makes a strong statement musically, as does “Anti-Cosmic Decree”, especially from a guitar standpoint. One thing about this band, they certainly don’t get dull. For proof of this just listen to “Burning the Infidel”, which is yet another favorite and one that really got me pumped while shoveling snow this afternoon. Once again, I’m not a gym guy, but if I was, this fucker would for sure be on my workout playlist. This track also features the best guitar solo on the disc, so there’s that as well. “I Am Belial” is definitely one of the more brutalizing songs; it’s short, sweet, and cracks a brick over your goddamn head.
“Marching With the Accuser” is not only the album’s longest song at 5:24, but it wastes absolutely no time trying to take your fucking head off from beginning to end. Now this is how you close a record, people. And then promptly hit REPEAT to start the madness all over again. At the end of the day The Evil Emanations is a very good record from a band that goes way beyond simply showing promise. I guarantee you HELLISH GOD can lock horns with the best of them and come out on top. If you like your Death Metal old school and brutal, then this is definitely a band you should be checking out sooner rather than later.
STANDOUT TRACKS: “Burning the Infidel”, “Marching With the Accuser”, The Hindering Ones”, “Tagimron is Summoned”
RATING: 9/10
