During the late years of the 80's, as Thrash Metal and Glam Metal started to lose commercial appeal (no tendency lasts for eternity, this must be known), other musical genres were arising from underground. The Second Death Metal Wave in the early days of the 90's was set by bands founded during the second half of the 80's. And one name that never came to be as famous as it deserves is from the North American act ACHERON. Unfortunately, it was laid to rest in 2019, but their EP "Satanic Victory" is being reissued now, with some bonus tracks.

Coming after the albums "Rites of the Black Mass" (1992) and "Lex Talionis" (1994), this EP (also released on 1994) still shows the quartet working on a traditional form of the genre, based on the same form used by DEICIDE, DEATH, CANNIBAL CORPSE and other Floridian Death Metal acts, but in a morbid and darkened form (especially during the slow tempos). Obviously for fans of other Death Metal tendencies, their music can sound a bit 'outdated', but for those who saw those glorious days, this reissue is a precious gem. The sonority is extremely traditional (in the North American sense, please), using a crude and simple approach. But not without a clean and defined aesthetics that allows the fans to understand what the band is playing and what the songs are meant to be. Obviously that the band deserved more, but it's good.

Today, to hear songs as "Unholy Praises" (a slow and funeral set tempos can be heard, reinforcing the darkened ambience of the song, with nasty guitar riffs and solos tempering it), "Seven Deadly Sins" and "Satanic Erotica" (two another slow paced songs, with charming guitars and excellent grunts), "Prayer of Hell" (this one is faster, showing a solid and traditional work on bass guitar and drums), "666" and "God id Dead" can be 'old fashioned' for those who are used to modern tendencies. But they're valuable and showed a strong act during the 90's. As bonus tracks, "Alla Xul" and "One With Darkness", songs from their famous (and infamous) rare Single "Alla Xul", released originally on 1992. They're songs that show how the quartet was traditional on their musical approach, but they deserved better recognition from the public.

This reissue of "Satanic Victory" comes to pay homage to the band's past and existence. But maybe ACHERON can rise from Hell once more and storm the Earth once more. Some blasphemy is required to put the right-wing conservative Metalheads in their due places...