A daeva is a maleficent supernatural being, a demon. It's from the Zoroastrian religion. You know, that set of beliefs that reputes to promote the goodness of the universe. But as RJD taught us, you can't have the light without the dark and so religions also tend to have a whole pantheon of evil beings. DAEVA is also a Black/Thrash Metal band from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. True to the etymology of their moniker, they too are the antithesis of light and righteousness . . . though they do forge some righteously brutal metal. On October 12, 2022, the foursome released their first full-length album, "Through Sheer Will and Black Magic," via 20 Buck Spin. It's been five years since they unleashed their debut EP. While I can complain about the wait, "Through Sheer Will and Black Magic" is worth the wait.

Though there have been some lineup changes - new drummer and bassist (both of CRYPT SERMON)- "Through Sheer Will and Black Magic" easily matches the intensity level of their 2017 EP, "Pulsing Dark Absorptions." The album starts off with a moody atmospheric intro, aptly named "Intro (Emanations," before committing a 35-minute FWOBM-tinged assault on your eardrums and your soul, both of which will be shattered.

For standout tracks, you can save some time and just reference the full track list and call it done. I'll give it a go though. My favorites list begins with "The Architect and the Monument" where the band's virtuosity is only matched by their ferocity. As the first proper track of the album, it sets the stage for what's next to come both sonically as well as lyrically.

"Passion Under the Hammer" scores my number two spot simply due to its event horizon gravity. True to its name, the is a mass of Metal forged to bludgeon all challengers into submission. There's an otherworldly 90-minute outro tagged to the end which comes across as an interlude and adds a unsettling contrast to the otherwise monochrome landscape. Next on my list is "Loosen the Tongue of the Dead." This song, played at the right volume and with the right accompanying rites, might do just that. Finally, the closing track, "Luciferian Return" is, of course, the opus. It recapitulates, it reemphasizes, reanimates, reminds and returns. To what? The glory days of FW, the roots of Thrash, the Luciferian contract.

The cover of the album (artwork by Karmazid) is unadorned with a title or logo. It's almost as if everything that would weaken a direct link between the spirit of the album and its listener has been stripped away. Not to say that the title doesn't capture the essence of the album but adding it would inadvertently cover some of the artwork. And this art demands your full attention-as do the nine tracks that make up this unholy artifact.

All in all, DAEVA's "Through Sheer Will and Black Magic" is a grand entry for the end of the year. Just when you thought you might have heard all the year has to offer, another masterpiece gets registered. This is a must for any fan of Extreme Metal. This is what we came here for it.