For some reason that CD came a bit late for review... although it had been released in 1998, it didn't arrive for review to our offices till today.

Being not a black metal fan, I can't have a very spherical opinion on this CD. However since my fellow editors insisted that I should the review for it (with a big smile in their faces), I will give it a try.

Khephra is a Black Metal band from Italy and this is their debut E.P. It includes 4 songs that at least manage not to sound all the same. Their music sounds a lot like old Bathory and a bit like Immortal and Mayhem without having much of original ideas in their tunes. The songs are quite simple, without any big changes or exciting solos (actually there are no guitar solos at all) and of course they are always fast.

One very good aspect of the album is the very very good production. Everything is balanced. Guitars are powerful, drums are on the correct level, the bass gives the appropriate heavy feeling and vocals are very clean for black metal music (you can even understand some of the lyrics).
Now that I mentioned lyrics... the booklet is quite good and it has a nice cover. Of course the lyrics stay in the same level of unoriginality as their music, talking about satan and black magic. Finally the photos of the band members are the usual evil ones. Lots of spikes and makeup that try to scare young kids and old ladies.

On the overall, the EP is quite boring and unoriginal, saved only by the good production. Maybe if Khephra decide to play something more original will have some chance to survive in the already overcrowded black metal scene. Next please 🙂