DEFACING GOD hailing from Aalborg, Denmark were formed in 2015. They play a mixture of symphonic Black and symphonic melodic Death Metal. Their sophomore album "Darkness Is My Crown" was mixed and mastered by Tue Madsen (ABORTED; DARK TRANQUILITY; HEAVEN SHALL BURN) at Antfarm Studios. It has a length of about 38 minutes, and it was released via German Death and Black Metal specialists Apostacy Records. The album has a frantic start with the introduction of "Nocturnal Vestige", driven by the blast-beats and the orchestral arrangements, leading into devastating guitar riffs at mid-tempo. The melodies are spine-chilling, while the riffing is accompanied by orchestrations, led by the strings and the brass. The arrangements also provide grim atmospheric patterns. The vocals are very aggressive growls, and they vary between the medium to higher end of the guttural range. Between the mid-tempo parts, there are constantly blast-beat driven episodes, which increase the dark nature of the track. "Nocturnal Vestige" is the perfect opening track for the album. "Malediction Manor" continues with the symphonic Black Metal sound of the opening track. It is a mid-tempo track with powerful guitar riffs, a lot of double-bass drumming, and a mixture of strings and brass. On top of it are the aggressive vocals. The chorus parts offer grim and melancholic melodies, intensified by the choir. "It Comes At Night" slows down the tempo, but not the darkness. The instrumental introduction is led by the guitar riffing, the double-bass drumming, the piano and the strings, leading into verse part, driven by the highly pitched screams of vocalist Sandie The Lilith. The melodies are bone-chilling and melancholic, while the orchestral arrangements are very prominent. The break offers a shift in tempo and rhythm when the guitar riffing becomes punchier, supported by the blast-beats and the bloodcurdling screams and it lasts right until the end of the track.

"I See Shadows" starts with a grim sequence of the guitars, leading to the main riff of the track at mid-tempo for the first part. The track is a head-banger with catchy guitar riffs, the screams, and the choir delivering a blood-freezing atmosphere. The choruses are intensified by orchestral arrangements. The break slightly slows down to a measured tempo and offers even more darkness with the guitars, the vocals, and the arrangements. "Nefarious Enclave" starts frantic with the blast-beats and traditional Black Metal riffing, supported by orchestrations, providing a melancholic atmosphere. The verse parts have more aggression in the guitar riffing and the screams, while the choruses offer classic atmospheric symphonic Black Metal. The track focuses on a dark melodic and epic delivery, combined with the spine-chilling screams. "Hymns Of The Memoir" is introduced by the drums and a male choir, providing a tension-building and grim atmosphere. The vocals finally open the track with Latin lyrics. The remaining part of the track is led by the strings, the drums, and male spoken words. "Hymns Of The Memoir" have the character of an inter-lude, even though it is not. "There Is No Light" starts with very strong guitar riffs at measured tempo, leading into a powerful verse guitar part at a stomping rhythm. The vocals are intensified by the choir. The guitar riffing is punishing and delivers together with the drumming and the vocals a spine-chilling atmosphere. The chorus parts include dark but catchy melodies supported by the double-bass drumming. The track becomes increasingly frantic towards the end with the blast-beats, the riffing and the screams drive the track, however, the grim melodic framework is maintained from the first to the final note. "There Is No Light" is one of the album highlights.

"Your Presence Lingers Here" is introduced by the main guitar riff and the main melody, supported by the arrangements and the choir, leading into the verse part with direct and aggressive guitar riffs at mid-tempo. Th choruses go back to the initial riffing and melody at a measured tempo, and it is, together with the screams and the choir and epic and bombastic delivery. The break is rather cut a little bit short and the track circles back to another epic chorus part. "Transition" starts with powerful guitar riffs, the orchestrations, and the choir, leading into a mid-tempo verse part with punishing guitar riffs, supported by the double-bass and the screams. The choruses are a short blast-beat driven delivery with grim melodies. The break combines direct and aggressive guitar riffing with the choir elements, the strings, and the screams. "Transition" was released as video, and the YouTube link is provided below. The album finishes with "The Last Revelation" and the track starts with powerful riffs at a measured tempo and a sluggish, head-banging rhythm, supported by the double-bass drumming and the orchestrations. The choruses slightly change rhythm with epic melodies. The break is short and adds more aggression with staccato-type of riffs supported by the screams. The track circles back to another verse/chorus part. "The Last Revelation" is another album highlight.

DEFACING GOD release symphonic Black Metal excellence. "Darkness Is My Crown" is blood-freezing, devastating, relentless, and epic. The album offers a perfect symbiosis of modern Black Metal and orchestral arrangements. It is very different from their debut album, which had a catchier symphonic melodic Death Metal sound with Swedish inspirations in the riffing and the solos. With "Darkness Is My Crown", DEFACING GOD found their unique sound towards epic symphonic Black Metal. The album keeps the listener on their toes during every single second. The songwriting is excellent and tailored towards vocalist Sandie The Lilith, who had a blast on every single track. The album is very well produced, and Tue Madsen did a great job in mixing and mastering. "Darkness Is My Crown" is a crushing symphonic Black Metal masterpiece and a landmark album for DEFACING GOD.