Christmas has come early for me! Two of my favourite subgenres of Metal rolled into one brutal band. Thrash/Black Metal trio SATANIKA are back with their newest release "Total Inferno". Right down to the album artwork it's clear this album is going to be one hell of an aural ride. The album artwork features some incredible artwork that nightmares are made of; teeth, deep sea monsters and oh so many tentacles. What that has to do with a "Total Inferno" I don't know; but it's epic and stands out nonetheless.

I couldn't help but giggle to myself at the opening track. With a name like "The Worst Is Yet To Come" they really weren't lying. This "song" is forty eight seconds of ambient noise running smoothly into their first proper track "Sighs From The Depths". This is, effectively, the opening track and it serves its purpose; it engulfs us in an orgy of carnage worthy of Satan himself.

After listening to a few more songs, it becomes extremely evident that SATANIKA mix a very high amount of Death Metal into their music. Are they Thrash, Black or Death Metal? You decide! It's just further proof that a band doesn't have to confine themselves to the standard modern day subgenres to produce astounding music.

Anyway, back to the album. A few songs later comes my absolute favourite track "Gates of Hell" . The main riff is so catchy it made me want to pick up my guitar and play along. Any song that can make me do that has my instant respect. At around the two and a half minute mark, the song slows right down (almost making you think the song is over) and captures you in a slow, headbang-worthy beat with vocals that make the hair on the back of your neck stand on end. This song is the one that I caught myself going back to constantly, like a junkie looking for "just for one more fix".

The last song of this monumental album happens to be the title track "Total Inferno" and it begins with the most Black Metal feel out of the entire album; very BEHEMOTH-esque. The vocals are slightly different in this track than the previous. They take on a whole new raw tone which coincides with the instruments perfectly. The riff, as usual, is memorable and catchy. This is definitely close second for my favourite track on the album.

I cannot fault this album in any way. If I was to blend everything I love about metal into one album, "Total Inferno" would be it. This has quickly found it into my top five releases of 2015. Everything from the production, to the instruments, to the vocals to the feel of the album is perfection. SATANIKA well and truly hit their mark with this Masterpiece.