After the coming of SALEM, and later of ORPHANED LAND, the Metal scene of Israel became known to the world. But the fiery work of MELECHESH and ARALLU brought attention as the so-called promised land was fertile for extreme Metal acts, especially for Black Metal ones. And one good name from Black Metal from Israel, laying on the depths of the underground is the one-man band DIE ENTWEIHUNG, here presenting the re-release of its 10th full-length, “Kings & Pawns”.

As this is a second edition from the album (that was originally released early on 2021), it gained a remastering that was done by the hands of the Yuri “DarkDevil” Babeshko, who worked with PANTHEON and TEMPTATION, who earned the sonority a better shape: it keeps its original roughness, but aligned with a new gleam. And the artwork was updated artwork on the cover (but the original art is included inside the booklet). And as guests, here are Alexander Ivanov (of JINX) on the additional vocals, Alena “Dark Zero” (of NOCTURNAL PESTILENCE) on the female vocals, Anton “Shirl” (of DER GERWELT, ODEATHATOR and TALES OF DARKNORD) on the bass guitar on “Sons of Moon and Fire”.

Musically, the band is a Black Metal act, as told above. But it’s not something so ‘rigid’, or in other words, the music is plenty of influences earned from Heavy Metal, Thrash Metal, Doom Metal, and even some melodic sense from Middle East music. It’s like mixing influences of old DIMMU BORGIR and SATYRICON works with Oriental Metal traits, creating something different, melodic and darkened, but filled with different elements. And it’s truly very good.

“The Moustached God” (very good and aggressive guitar riffs entangles with Heavy Metal melodic hooks in many moments, and what very good keyboards as well), “As the Hangover Starts” (the melodic side of their music becomes evident with the decreasing of speed, with nasty and good shrieks laying on the melodic instrumental sheath), “Kings & Pawns” (the song used for the lyric video, and it carries a heavy dose of melodies, along with shifts between the vocals tunes, and a very good work on bass guitar and drums), “The Nonsense Games” (excellent shifts can be heard with the leads of the guitars depicting fine melodies, and what contrasts between male and female vocals), and the band’s versions for “Working Class Hero” (of John Lennon, here in a Folk Black Metal way) and “Sons of Moon and Fire” (a song of DER GERWELT, here as a homage to the band’s deceased guitarist, Aarbreck) will entangle you all to the maelstromic musical expression of the band.

For sure DIE ENTWEIHUNG is another great name of Israeli Black Metal. And you must listen to “Kings & Pawns” as fast as you can, especially if you’re into Black Metal ways.