OFERMOD requires no introduction. Steered by Belfagor aka Mika Hakola since 1996, the Swedish horde have sewn influence and infamy in equal measure. Now marks the long awaited arrival of "Draksophia," the bands fifth full-length album in which Belfagor is joined by North American vocalist Adeptus, session drummer Florian Musil, and bassist Devo. Invoked right from the beginning "Draksophia" is both classic OFERMOD and a continual unfolding of their unique characteristic sound, dynamically sinister and vigorously menacing. Open your third eye and let Lucifer crush ALL cosmic illusions of time and space and become born anew in the LVX of Phosphorus. An alchemical nigredo for the neophyte, however, a metamorphosis for the initiate who finds this great work rewarding.

The album has nine songs, and "Aicha Kandisha" is first. It comes straight at you with a razor clutched in its hand and murder in its heart. Although the drums buzz as fast as a machine gun firing without an end in its clip, you can make out the chaos pretty well. The title track is another bruiser, that will leave your face bloody and your head spinning. That infamous "one-two" step where the chord goes half a note lower, then half a note higher is alive and well. The vocals are horrid as well. "Malat Atat" combines a harrowing riff with the thick, overgrown roots of Black Metal into an evil affair. Again, the drums keep the energy going, the fire that is never extinguished if you will. "Zazas Zazas Nasatanada Zazas" is another aggressive offering where the title is repeated over and over again.

"Belialistic Gra'al Codex" has a slower, and more grinding pace, with elements of hopelessness mixed into the anger. These two seemingly opposing things can indeed live together well on the same album. "Nox Draconis" has that classic Black Metal sound that is both filthy and frightening. It's just a bit too expected for me however. I would love to hear something out of left field, or even some variants here and there. "Sinister Acolyte" might as well describe them all these days, given all of the news of the Catholic church lately. It digs at the root of the evil, unearths it, and presents it you like a platter of palatable food. But at closer look, it is rotting flesh with maggots.

"The Painful Movers" is the final song, and it's another fairly safe offering. Although the band was trying to present another filthy album, it's a bit on the safe side for me. Sure, some long term fans won't like a 180, but there are plenty of ways to inject some diversity into the album, even capitalize on some of the more modern elements of Black Metal today. It was good, don't get me wrong, just a bit too safe for me.