Sekhmet - Opus Zrudy (Opus Of Monstrosity) [CD]

Czech Republic's SEKHMET releases "Opus Zrudy", their third full length. There are no keyboards, no Gothic influences, no female vocals, no atmospheric stuff, just good old Black Metal. The most notorious influences present in "Opus Zrudy" are drawn from the early full on speed attack of DARKTHRONE and the evil vibe of early BATHORY, even though SEKHMET's song structures are more complex than the aforementioned bands. Production wise, the album has that thin demo feeling from the 90s, not heavy enough, yet a 'signature' sound for the genre. Surprisingly, the mix is really clean and you can listen to every instrument. The vocals are just high enough, shifting from the usual shriek to a hoarse grunt in some passages. The rhythm foundation, bass and drums, works really well as the backbone for the guitars' minor scale riffing. To sum it up, this is a solid 'oldschool' (am I allowed to say that?) Black Metal album from SEKHMET. Recommended. By the way, there is a cover version of DARKTHRONE's 'Under A Funeral oon' included as a bonus track. Tracklist: 1. Intro 2. Nástroje Bolesti 3. Čas Poselství 4. Poprava 5. Opus Zrůdy 6. Pochmůrnost Vlastní Slepoty 7. Legie Vítězství 8. Píseň Války 9. Dějiny Nenávisti 10. Under a Funeral Moon (Darkthrone cover)