"Venom and Hellhammer and Bathory did something very important when they started out, they started far away from the heart of Black Metal. And I still think that no one has been able to touch the thing that gave life to Black Metal in the first place."

The above quote is taken from an interview with WATAIN mastermind Erik Danielsson, in the 2008 documentary "Black Metal Satanica", and until today, I'd have been inclined to agree with this statement. But after listening to BORN FOR BURNING's debut two song EP, the first release not only for the band but for their label, Critical Mass Recordings. This band are clearly influenced by Black Metal legends BATHORY; they are even named after a BATHORY song. The band is comprised of alumni of some of Sweden's best Black Metal acts, including SHINING and SETHERIAL. This is a great way for both band and label to start out, and along with SABBATIC GOAT's "Imprecations of Black Chaos", this looks set to be one of the best Black Metal releases of 2014.

The first song, "Shadows and Flames", could very well be mistaken for a missing track from either "The Return..." or "Under the Sign of the Black Mark". It's Black Metal as many people believe it should be; raw, low-fi and grim. It's no frills, straight forward Black Metal. The same could be said of the second and final track, "Burn in Fire". It features dirty sounding guitars, fast drumming and an incredibly eerie sounding guitar solo, dying away in a crash of drum symbols and the sound of crackling flames. It's enough to make the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end.

If you are a fan of Bathory, then you should give this EP a listen. It has all the hallmarks of BATHORY's Black Metal heyday, and is extremely good. If you aren't into the rawer, "kvlt" forms of Black Metal, then this definitely isn't for you. If you are lucky enough to live in Sweden, you can catch these guys with Morbus Chron and Primordial on September 26th at Club Destroyer. With any luck, it won't be long before the rest of the world gets to witness them live.