So we have another one man black metal band in the form of HELLERUIN who is completely led by the multi-instrumentalist CARCHOST who has played drums and/or bass guitar in previous bands such as LOCUS AMOENUS, GESTALTE, but also plays drums in two other bands namely ETHRAID EINGRIN and OREWOET. CARCHOST comes from the region of Groningen in the Netherlands (Holland) and his one man band HELLERUIN began with a demo in 2016, followed by an EP titled A THOUSAND DREAMS in 2020 but not before their debut album WAR UPON MAN was released in 2021. The debut album was released through New Era Productions but then a single was released not long before a split album came along with a collaboration with DE GEVREESDE ZIEKTE in 2022.

Now after another single release, HELLERUIN are now set for what is their second album to date now with DEVILS, DEATH AND DARK ARTS which features six tracks altogether as did their debut album, so we shall head straight into the album itself with the intro track which is "The Flame Still Burns Within Me" as we hear haunting whispers of black metal soundscape. Then a guitar ring combined with another guitar riff burning as it creates a crescendo until the drums kick in with rebellious streaks of slamming as vocals also enter the fore, but the track is driven by the drums and guitar. So a violent discord of all instruments with drums lighting up the outburst of hell-raising black metal power as guitars are speedy as vocals come and go, but scream for attention when they can.

A mellow guitar solo comes in halfway through the track with a gradual build up on drums before the tormenting clash of all elements comes together again once more as the drums vary the tempo throughout the track. The track ends with the harrowing guitar solo going into the next track which is "Devils, Death and Dark Arts" opens with thrashing drums before vocals roar like a satanic beast, as guitars are livid with blistering riffs. The drums go from pulsating to a more thumping tempo with punctuation and precision as we hear guitar flying by with vocals creating a contrast between soft whispers and loud screamer notes. As the course has been set and understood, all elements are doing what they do best as they blend well together in this track, giving the listener what they want as well.

A slight pause or quiet moment comes at the end before we go into the next track which is "It Befalls The Night With Doom" as raging guitars are threatening to take the lead but drums will have their vengeance as before creating one big cluster of black metal mania and bliss. There is no time to slow down here and we can also hear a mix of the higher frequencies and lower tones as well, so this track is certainly a mixture of demonised devastation of all kinds from each instrument. After a long section of such devastation there is a slight pause for guitar to play a short interval and drums bow out briefly only to return back to their original path of wretched misogyny.

Heading into the next track which is " All Shades Of Ferocity" as there is nothing too heavy as we hear the soundscape of a wind instrument perhaps it is synthetic or it may not be. So this prolongs itself for the first part of this track as we hear the slow gradual crescendo and then a rather distant but noticeable drum pattern being played in the next part of the track. We can even hear a quiet bass tone also like a drone type sound and a melodic tone layered on top, a short enough track lasting only three minutes. But now back on course for the next track which is "Riddles In Devil's Tongue" as we hear roaring guitars teaming up with the racing drums as before as deep toned screamer vocals also join in, but as dynamic as they have been throughout the album.

The elements are like fire burning through the heart of this track and they motivate themselves to stay alight as long as they can, but the drums certainly vary along the way as they tend to change a little but guitars and vocals remain the lead protagonist. As we approach the final track, we can hear guitars ringing out with harmonics as we head into the grand finale of this album which is "Hymn Of Life And Death". There is a percussive and great rhythm to this track as guitars follow along with their melodic yet ominous tone as they have played so in this album, with vocals soothing through with quiet words at first then turning the track on its head with satanic influences.

There is certainly a more instrumental role to this track, as drums convert from the slower movement to the faster pace they had in previous tracks. But then calm and quiet as piano takes over with delicate melody and such wonderful touches of clarity and beauty too but then the violent discord returns with an almighty scare that can send shivers down the listeners spine. So we have come to the end and closure of this album which has certainly sent us on a rollercoaster, there is a lot to pay attention to, but I can safely say that this album can certainly give us so much hope as to how black metal can stand out. I do like this album but there is so much to build on now going forward.