BLACKEVIL is a German Black/Thrash/Heavy Metal from Baden-Württemburg, Bavaria. They have been around since 2013 and on October 25th 2024 they released their third studio album with the lengthy title “Praise The Communion Fire For The Unhallowed Sacrament”. I know do it a lot, but again I have to admit to not having heard anything of BLACKEVIL before this one. Whatever I feel about that should become clearer during the reading of this review.

Let me start by emphasising that the musical direction I picture is quite accurate, and that the ranking of the musical styles played is right as well. The main part is Black Metal, but bombarded with Thrash metal and Heavy Metal parts where appropriate. And I have to say that this combination does work. It prevents the songs to become available just for the Black Metal purists, or if you like, too impenetrable for the neutral listener (read fans of the other two musical styles). But nobody needs to worry, as the way Abyss uses his voice and the rhythms that are being played on the drums make sure that you recognise you are dealing with a Black Metal record at heart. As for drummer Bloodhammer, he is a new addition to the line-up, and a very welcome one.

I personally really like the variation that this level of diversity creates and uses, as it keeps you on your toes, holds your interest and prevents you from drifting off while listening to “Praise The Communion Fire For The Unhallowed Sacrament”. BLACKEVIL is a very interesting band with a wide variety, but also with enough depth to make me enjoy listening to the album, even though I haven’t got a clue how to successfully describe what they are doing. Are the songs good, bad, in between? Sometimes I just don’t know. I just know that they are far from bad.

What does help is the fact that the production of “Praise The Communion Fire For The Unhallowed Sacrament” is bloody good indeed. Crisp and clear where it concerns the Thrash and Heavy Metal parts, and vague and misty when Black Metal is reigning. But you can distinguish all the sounds being played all the time. That in itself is worth listening to this latest offering of BLACKEVIL, as it will show you that bands can venture out into more musical styles without losing themselves. “Praise The Communion Fire For The Unhallowed Sacrament” is such a good example that I am contemplating finding their other albums.