UPRISING formed in Germany in 2014. I did some digging, but as with many bands in this genre, there isn't a lot of information available out there. Which is fine, of course.  Many musicians prefer to remain in the shadows so to speak, and just let the music do the talking. So, let's do just that. "Uprising" is the band's debut album, containing seven tracks, and a total running length of close to 40 minutes. "Introduction" is a brief, two-minute mood setter. There is soft spoken word and some eerie programming, which leads to "Uprise." The fuzzy main riff is swallowed by the heavy bass and drums, and the production is muted in due amounts. The vocals are raspy but not overly shrieking as you sometimes hear in Black Metal. Around the three minute mark they drop into a bit of a lower range and some background ambiance litters the landscape, creating a truly spooky sound.

"Thrones To Overthrow" speaks briefly of slaves, pain and death, and the difference of what death means when a free man dies and a slave dies. There is a regal quality to the deeply depressing and evil sounding song, which varies in pace. "Gather The Dark Spirits" is a bit shorter but no less ferocious. If you listen deeply, you can hear these spirits gathering in the dark, ready to feed on human sacrifice. "Ravens In Dark Skies" opens with a howling wind, and the sound of ravens squawking. The landscape is barren, cold and unforgiving. The riffs are aggressive and weighted. Nihilism is the rejection of all religions and the basic belief that all life is meaningless. In this context of emptiness comes the track "Nihilistic Chants." The despondent sound echoes this sentiment, with lamenting vocals and a grinding sound that seems to envelope everything in your existence.

"Behold The Eternity Of Stars" is the eight-minute closer. Sonically there is a lot going on, like trying to take in the enormity of the universe. Hatred, pestilence, doom and death are all around you, as you try to make sense of the nonsensical, and gasp your last breath in this world, ultimately ending as food for the worms. Traditional in scope, "Uprising" is a great Black Metal album for both purists of the style and younger fans discovering this world for the first time. It is heavy, ominous and evil, and with just the right amount of programming in support.