There are differences between the early days of Black Metal (when the genre was solely an evolution of what MOTÖRHEAD was doing since the middle of the 70's, a fusion of the weight of Metal with the nasty elements and speed of Punk Rock) to what it became after the 'upgrade' given by BATHORY and SARCÓFAGO (those who blue printed the genre on "Under the Sign of the Black Mark" and "I.N.R.I"), and finally concreted by MAYHEM in the late years of the 80's. Still today, the genre evolves on a healthy way, as can be heard on the work of the Swedish quintet GODHEAD MACHINERY's EP "Masquerade Among Gods", the band's latest release.

They have a clear Swedish Black Metal form of making music: the contrasts between fast and slow tempos with funereal ambiences (created by sad and subjective melodies, in the case of the quintet) with the nasty and crude approach. Instrumentally, the band uses a good technique in the musical instruments that enables the shrieks and snarls of the vocals to find their best. It's solid, harsh, bitter and aggressive, but with a touch of care in the musical arrangements. And although their music won't sound new to many, they show their value on this EP, indeed.

The sonority given to the EP fits on a classic model used by Black Metal bands: you can understand what the band is playing, but with that crude aesthetics that give their music the right basis to grow and gives fruit. No Black Metal fan will complain about it, and maybe those that aren't into the genre will have the clear idea of what they're expressing. "Magna Mortalitas" has a classic slow paced set of tempos (although some fast parts can be heard in some points), creating a morbid feeling (especially due many guitars arrangements), with the same elements being heard on "Upon His Deceitful Star" (that shows a solid work on bass guitar and drums). "Vulture Excarnation" is rich in contrasts, what them to show how their music is based on refined musical arrangements (pay attention on the guitars). And the brutality and speed appears more evidently on "Masquerade Among Gods" (a song full of an amazing energy, and that presents excellent contrasts between the tunes used by the vocals). Yes, it's really a very good EP.

"Masquerade Among Gods" is really a very good release, and precedes their next album, "Monotheistic Enslavement", that'll be out on November 26th, 2021. So let's hope that GODHEAD MACHINERY will keep their Black Metal crusade, creating very good songs (for what this writer can see, I'll be the one to review it, what would be a pleasure to me).