BLACK SORCERY is a black metal band from Rhode Island that formed in 2020. 'Deciphering Torment Through Malediction,' is their full length debut, although they did release a demo in 2021. This album is quite the surprise. With this being their first full length and not having previously heard their demo, I went into this completely blind. 'Deciphering Torment Through Malediction,' is, quite simply, chaos incarnate. I don't know if the band went into the studio and decided to record this all at once but it sure sounds like it-and that isn't a bad thing. The whole album is raw and has a very live feel to it. The album's 39 minute run time speeds by at a blistering rate, which makes it perfect for multiple listens. The entire time it feels like the music is on the verge of unraveling itself, melting out of the speakers and reforming into a demon that will straight up gut you. This music is anger and frustration, bubbling just under the surface. Simply put:  it sounds both glorious and decadent. The songs are definitely riff based and aren't just nonstop tremolo picking. The bass is quite audible and worth the listen, something that doesn't always happen with this type of black metal.

The drums, of course, match the intensity but it's more than nonstop blast beats and machine gun snare. The vocals are high pitch screams with a little echo on them, just enough to heighten the effect and rise against the production, which needs a lot of work yet this rough production does work for the album wonderfully. After a clean intro, the album is immediately ramped up with 'Gasping for Light Under a Petrine Cross,' and it has some powerful groove that settles in early. Much like the rest of the songs, this one displays hints of melody before the band barrels back into a speeding death machine. The later half of the song has a small moment of catchy melodic groove and a cascade of shattering drums. 'Erinyes Slough,' has a bit of a lower and dirtier sound to it mainly because of the thicker notes the bass lays down and the static infused guitars About half through, the song leaves its mid paced proving grounds and fully embraces total violence. The drums are impressive here and accent all the other elements very well while pushing the song towards the edge.

'Sordid Rote,' is among the darker tracks and also extremely chaotic. The combination of the unrelenting vocals and drums turns the song into a harrowing fever dream. The intensity in this song is nearly surreal. At the 3:44 mark, the song slows the temple and tries chaos for sinister stalking backed up by a mean guitar tone. The final song, 'Seven Veils,' begins as a mid paced jam but after an unique sounding  guitar solo, the bottom falls out with a psychotic drop that ends the song in a depraved fashion. BLACK SORCERY's 'Deciphering Torment Through Malediction,' is a wild but interesting blackened ride.Purchase Link:

https://eternaldeath.bandcamp.com/album/deciphering-torment-through-malediction