In its early days, Death Metal inherited the satanic themes due the strength of the influences that VENOM had in the first half of the 80's, the explanation for the lyrical direction chosen by POSSESSED and MORBID ANGEL (but of course things changed as DEATH, MASSACRE and others started to explore other types of lyrics). This is the reason of many bands with Old School Death Metal form use satanic themes, as can be heard on "In Nomine Diaboli", the third album of the North American ancient IMPRECATION. The band was a part of young acts the Second Wave of Death Metal in the 90's (it was founded on 1991), entered a hiatus and is back since 2009 (curiously, their first album, "Satanae Tenebris Infinita", came only after the band's come back). These words are here to explain and justify the Old School Death Metal insight of their musical work, being clear that they're not in a trend, but's this form is the core of their music.

It's brutal, aggressive, massive and nasty, with everything laying on the First Wave lessons, but allowing them to express their inner personality (as the use of some keyboards' moments that reinforce the oppressiveness of some songs, as can be heard on "Bringer of Sickness"). It's full of energy, brutal and crude, so the fans of the old days will love this release for sure. The works of Mike BBQ (recording, mixing) and Dan Lowndes (mastering) were done in a form that allows the band's expression to be understood by anyone. But on the other hand, all the Old School Death Metal features of a sound quality are presented, especially on the instrumental tunes used on the album. And the band brought their comrade Ziek Drachenfels to make a guest set of solos on "Thorns of Hate".

The Old School Death Metal DNA of "In Nomine Diaboli" is clear, and fans of Death Metal will love moments as "Reborn in Fire" (a set brutal and Old School North American hooks can be heard, especially due the rhythmic contrasts created by bass guitar and drums), "Ars Goetia" (where some Old School Death/Black Metal influences can be heard, especially due the slow tempos and nasty guitar riffs and solos), "Bringer of Sickness" (an oppressive and chaotic moment of the album, with very good keyboards' arrangements tempering the aggressive appeal of the song, and what good Old School grunts), "Devil's Furnace" (a technically simple and efficient Old School Death Metal song, with hooks poised in the right places), "Thorns of Hate" (a slow and nasty set of rhythms creates the right ambience of the song, before it explodes in a fast flow of crude energy), and "Stigmata Wounds". But the entire album is very good.

Those that are fans of IMPRECATION will love this release; but for those Old School Death Metal fans that didn't know the band's music, "In Nomine Diaboli" is a fine chance for it. And the album stands as an epitaph to one of the band's founders, Ruben Elizondo, who lost his life on the past year in the COVID-19 pandemic.