Pure Wrath - The Forlorn Soldier (2020)

Hailing from Indonesia, today we have one-man battalion Pure Wrath with the very impressive “The Forlorn Soldier” EP release. Unleashing a masterful combination of dramatic atmospherics, blistering Black Metal onslaughts and a hearty sense of melody, this release delivers almost 30 minutes of flawless music. Highly recommended for fans of bands like Sad Legend, Saor and Vallendusk, be prepared for an aural assault with this one.

The release opens with the blistering “When a Great Man Dies” and its waves of punishing riffs perfectly intertwined with catchy atmospheric elements and harsh vocals. This combination creates a very chaotic, yet refined and lush experience that will quickly grab the listener's attention and never let go. We particularly enjoy the solemn clean vocal arrangements in the superbly melodic closing stages of the song.

For those of us looking for the perfect balance of melody and brutality, “Children of the Homeland” unleashes nearly 10 minutes of brilliantly crafted rhythmical sections contrasted by lavish atmospheric arrangements and unparalleled aggression. We found ourselves furiously headbanging to this brilliant song, and this was only the first few minutes. The track continues to ooze melancholy as it nears its conclusion, creating a very dramatic contrast to end such a wonderful piece.

Saving the best for last, the exquisite “With Their Names Engraved”, blends all the melancholic elements of the first two tracks and creates an immersive hypnotic experience that brilliantly mixes the duality of elements the band features in its sound. As a whole, “The Forlorn Soldier” is one of the best releases we have received in 2020, and instantly put this band on our radar. If you are looking for uncompromising powerful, but yet melodic and bleak Atmospheric Black Metal, look no further and get a copy of this awesome release.

Label: Debemur Morti Productions

Release: March 6th, 2020

Genre: Atmospheric Black Metal

Country: Indonesia