Infested Angel is a death metal band from England, who formed in 2019. Their latest release, “Threnodies to Eternal Despair,” is their debut full-length; they have also released two EPs. I’m not familiar with the two EPS but “Threnodies to Eternal Despair” has impressed me with this debut album—it is loaded with songs that are fast and brutal but surprisingly catchy. There is a blackened feel to the songs too—in many of the riffs, drums, and even the atmosphere. The growls are often a higher pitched rasp and you’ll get no complaints from me about it—it pairs very well with the deep growls and screams that are also used. The opening song, “No Time For Despair,” is a fantastic example of their overall sound. Keyboards make a (very) subtle presence, just enough to add a touch of melancholy, which helps bridge their gap between death and black metal elements. The guitars have a pretty damn good tone to them, having no issues supplying a heavy low end for a more brutal touch but leave open enough for a ton of groove.

Moments of cleaner clarity are used as well, such as in the opening moments of “Euphony of Dismay.” The drums are cleverly used to build up the tension before the intricate guitar gives way to an armageddon of inhuman drums and guitars that are drenched in bleak fury. But the band isn’t afraid to use the clean elements as more than just an intro, as evident in the mid section of “Dread Incorporeal,” that offers more of the regal instrumentation but this time with spoken word which only adds to the haunting nature of the overall song. “The Lost Battle,” features Nathaniel Coxon, who is apparently a keyboardist of some renown. The first minute and twenty seconds or so of the song is a really fine keyboard movement so I have to agree that he is good. The rest of the song is a rager, the double bass in particular being effective at nonstop whiplash. I like the vocals a lot too, a brutal and abrasive performance.

The last full-length song is “Suffering and Retribution,” and it ends the album fittingly enough, not counting the short instrumental outro. The rhythm of the riffs and drums are zeroed in which each other, a double layer of horror and destruction All in all, INFESTED ANGEL’S “Threnodies to Eternal Despair,” is an early year surprise for me and a very solid debut. I will definitely be looking forward to what else they can do!