Infektion 1813＜限定盤/Marble Red Vinyl＞

For longtime fans of primitivist German black metallers Endstille, Infektion 1813 will mark a major change -- namely, the replacement of founding vocalist Iblis by a new guy named Zingultus. Others, coming to the band for the first time (as well they may, as Infektion also marks their debut for the Season of Mist label after several previous releases on Regain), will just hear another blasting, grinding black metal band. Endstille have no interest in attempting to incorporate any of the sounds -- rented orchestras, wailing choirs, industrial rhythms, and synthesizer melodies -- that have managed to make black metal interesting; no, they prefer the old-school, head-down approach that has served Marduk, Gorgoroth, and Immortal so well since the 1990s. There are a few surprises here, like the depressive chanting choruses on "Bloody H (The Hurt-Gene)" and the gang vocals on "The Deepest Place on Earth." The occasional ringing post-punk guitar tone livens things up, too. But ultimately, Infektion 1813 is an album that makes no concessions to anybody not already convinced by black metal. ~ Phil Freeman