Coming out of Poland is the Doom/Black Metal duo HELLS CORONATION. They have released a couple of EPs back in 2017 and 2018 respectively, and they are now ready to unleash hell with "Ritual Chalice of Hateful Blood". Beware, because this album is filled with dark ambience and sinister magic.

The instrumental intro "Levitating in Tarry Fog" sets the tone straight. It takes huge influences from PINK FLOYD, and applied a paralyzing touch of darkness into it. With its terrifying samples of a baby's murmur and goat bleats, it then leads to the much heavier, much darker "Covenant of Doom". Its combo of Black and Doom metal is on point, successfully bestowing a depressive and sinister mantra over a slow tempo. Following it up is "Mighty Black Flame" - a song of almost exactly the same length, but is more dynamic and eventful compared to the first one. Here, they started to employ brief breaks to give space for breathing - which works well for me. Still, it's the tempo together with Zepar's grim vocals and Coffincrusher's work on bass and drums that carried that perfect Black-Doom hybrid.

Another aspect you'll love in this album is the lyrics. The words seem like it was dictated by the abyss. It's dark, cold, hateful, and is not sorry -and all that is expressed with brilliant poetry. Here's an excerpt from the fifth track, "I Crush the Sanctity of Christ": "I'm putting the relics of hypocrisy from the altar/ In the Vatican modes I pierce the blades of Hell". Finishing off the onslaught is the longest track "Ressurection Through Condemnation". This track is like the accumulation of everything they have exhibited in the first five tracks. The sinister atmosphere, the scathing riffs, the gloomy tempo, and of course, the horrifying vocals are all there. Even if it is having the longest run time, it is the most memorable song in the record.

Clearly, "Ritual Chalice of Hateful Blood" is an excellent release from this small, unknown duo from Poland. This is fucking doom!