From their record label’s website, “Bellum Regiis,” which translates to “A War of Royalty” or “A War of Kings.” Sinner looks at the hard questions surrounding power-does its attainment make us aberrant or are we aberrant to begin with?” “Bellum Regiis” being richer in style and with more black-metal elements to it, Sinner comments further, “between female vocals, orchestration, samples, acoustic guitars, there are a lot of moving pieces that help set this album apart,” says Sinner. “My vocals have also changed quite a bit over the years. They’re more nuanced and wider-ranging, able to portray emotions and meanings in a more powerful way.” The album has nine songs, and the title track is first.

The opening tones are very solemn, with clean female vocals, but when that bomb drops, it drops with megaton force. The combination of thick guitars, harsh vocals, and blast beat drums lets you know what you are listening to. “Iphigenia” is a combination of both hate and hopelessness, and the two live in the same house. The guitars have an ominous warning, the vocals are powerful, and the drums beat so far, they sound like a swarm of angry bees. There are also some fantastic lead breaks. “A Ghost of Lost Delight” has a firm and dissonant sound fueled by a lot of aggression…the kind that moves you to consider violence. There is also a slowed passage where you get a brief reprieve from the aggression, but it is short lived.

“Rite of Triglav” has a marching quality of war to it…you can feel the books moving to the beat of the drums, and the backing choirs indicate a war machine ready to take over. “Perun Rising” has more of that dissonant aggression heaped up onto your plate with a crooked smile from the chef. You will eat, or else. Although it is hard at times to make out some of the lyrics, I heard the work “executioner,” and that speaks of the album’s terror. “Alfa Inferi Goddess of War” also has a healthy amount of aggression, but at this point in the album, one might expect a bit more variation. The band’s musicianship is incredible, but they need to break free from some of the constraints. “Ageless Harp of Devilry” closes the album, and it’s another song filled with unbridled aggression.

For those fans who like their Black Metal tried, true, and tested, and don’t mind one aggressive song after another, this album is for you. I like it when they push past some of the narrow constraints and forge something of their own that is still heavily rooted in the genre. This was good, but given the band’s talent, could have been better.