AEGRUS is a Black Metal band hailing from Kouvola, Finland. In October the band is releasing a long play album, "In Manus Satana," and an EP, "Wolves Howl Revenge." The band's name is Latin, btw, meaning "diseased." Each of the band member names are also derived from Latin, or later romantic languages. A lot of bands do this, so I guess it's a thing. I suppose it suggests a type of dark esoterica.

Today I'll be reviewing "Wolves Howl Revenge," a tight, two-track EP which will be unleashed on All Hallows Eve. While most of their material pre-2019 was produced by Lux Tenebris and Darkseer Inculta, the band now features two additional members, Praestigiator (guitars) and Serpentifer (drums). Although the line-up has expanded, the focus of the band remains the same, Satanic infused Black Metal. The EP is just under ten minutes, but doesn't waste a single moment on superfluous interludes or pedantic meanderings. From the graceful but heavy intro of "Wolves of Belial" to the grinding conclusion of "Flames of Revenge," the 7" EP is a non-stop assault. Like the album cover, this is classic, no frills Black Metal, both elegant and angry in its execution.

The production is decidedly not lo-fi, so you can clearly decipher the layered nuances of the dual guitar attack as well as the unremitting bass. You can also appreciate Inculta's vocals, harsh and shrill, as they cut through the melodic tremolo, epic riffs, and unrelenting blast beats to intone lyrics of . . . who the hell knows? To honest, I couldn't understand a solitary word, but I can tell you they aren't about love. My favorite of the two tracks is "Flames of Revenge." The song kicks off at a fast gallop and doesn't let up through the last screeching seconds. I also like the fact that Serpentifer extends way past the stereotypical blast beats, adding a dose of raw, heaviness. "Wolves of Belial" is also a strong track, but is heavily reliant on the tremolo. Although well delivered, it comes across as expected. It's good, but not great.

As I noted, "Wolves Howl Revenge" is a short album, which I guess is the definition of an EP. So much of recent Black Metal is produced by single artists who stretch themselves beyond their technical aptitude to cover all the instruments. AEGRUS is a refreshing break in the trend. With the 2019 lineup of AEGRUS you get Black Metal delivered by four members deeply proficient in their craft. The result is high quality metal that you can appreciate on the aesthetic as well as gut level.