Though over a decade in existence, The Seventh Circle is only MORGAL’s second album, and first as a quartet. 2020’s Nightmare Lord was a nasty barrage typical of the band’s native Finland, but one got the feeling that more could be done. Founders SS Exiler [drums] and Crusher [guitars] must’ve felt the same; to that end, a new bassist/vocalist [Tomb Nekrofiler] and guitarist by the name of Killhammer were added to the force.

‘Stormchaser’ wafts in on calm, subtle winds, only for a NIFELHEIM-styled lightning ‘n’ thunder orgy to fuck the sky with fire and acid. The band’s tighter than I remember on the debut, but this only serves to give them the power to mangle with intent, Tomb Nekrofiler’s esophageal scrapings leading haranguing all the way to the final blistering climax. Even more maniacal, ‘Tales Of Woland’ blasts away for the first minute before slamming into slicing riffs and both Crusher and Killhammer at war alongside and with one another as the Howitzer drums of SS Exiler pound plague into the ears.

‘Blessed In Hell’ forwards the frenzy, and its clear the band’s new blood has invigorated something which was already gnawing through the restraints for escape and to cause pain. Careening solos collide with Sheol-fueled rhythms to give a coal black throat power to tear, to rend. One of the few (and I do mean few) moments (and I do mean moments) of respite arrives with ‘Harbinger’s Ritual’ before a merciless yet memorable campaign against the senses forms one of the most rabid yet focused sonic salvos on the album, even tossing a bloodied sprinkle of rock ‘n’ roll solo shred [2:16-2:33].

Ending with ‘The Damned From The Seventh Circle’, the would-be title track ignites the night and deals death to the day with blistering strings, bloodied skins and charred screams, not a moment of it’s 6+ minutes spent in any goal except aural torment, as the best Finnish – nay, the best – black metal of this sort demands. Enter The Seventh Circle…or be dragged there. No escape.
Review By: Lord Randall

MORGAL
The Seventh Circle
Werewolf Records