MERCYFUL FATE, KING DIAMOND, ARTILLERY, SATURNUS, IRON FIRE, PANZERCHRIST, VÖLBEAT, MYRKUR, HATESPHERE, PYRAMAZE and many others are proof of how Denmark's Metal scene is fertile and can give to the word bands with excellent works (even to those that stay at home hearing only to known names). But the country seems to be a cornucopia of very promising bands, because if it's Danish, it's almost the same to say that 'it's excellent'. It's the case of the trio HEAVEN'S DAMNATION with their first release, called "Heaven's Damnation". The band's music is a form of Black Metal that allows influences of Blackened Death Metal, Thrash Metal and even of traditional Heavy Metal, being similar to what acts as TORMENTOR and DISSECTION did, but always showing the trio's own personality.

But these words are merely serving as a reference, once the band's music can be hard to translate in words, once they use a brutal approach that allows eerie and funeral melodies to adorn their darkened aggressiveness. Let's try to resume: it's a personal and different approach into Black Metal that will have a strong and deep appeal to those that lived the golden days of the genre in the 90's. "Heaven's Damnation" was produced and mixed by the hands of A. Fjorgynn (the band's drummer), and mastered by Lasse Ballade. Of course the band uses that harsh and morbid outfit that turns things darkened, but always trying to be clean enough for the ears to understand what the trio's expressing on each song. It's a good result in the end of all things. And to give a special flavor to the album, the presence of invited guests: The release offers guest appearance of T. Fischer (of DYSGNOSTIC and others) on the vocals, and solo by S. Kannegaard (of DENIAL OF GOD, ENCYRCLE, and others). And the artwork created by Misanthropic Art is great, and depicts what the fan will hear.

The four songs of this release will give the fans the feeling of 'I want more' after hearing to them. "Storms, Floods and Fire" is an amazing song, with excellent shifts between fast and brutal parts with introspective moments (with clean vocals) and spears-like guitar riffs and melodic solos. The brutal oppressive "Beneath Ruins" shows excellent keyboards arrangements and ambiences, with the vocals going from grunts to shrieks easily. And if one still says that 'Black Metal doesn't allow guitar solos, this one must hear to it on "The Crown of Man" (that's rich on instrumental arrangements and darkened melodies); and closing, "Wheels of Blood", another song filled with rhythmic changes and changes of ambiences, focusing its efforts on aggressiveness and a bonecrushing set of rhythms unleashed by bass guitar and drums.

Yes, HEAVEN'S DAMNATION's music is amazing, and I hope the trio can bring soon the sequence of "Heaven's Damnation". And you can listen to it/buy it at the band's Bandcamp profile.