Formed in late 2019, KRYPTONOMICON have delivered their debut album for Punishment 18 Records in the guise of "Nekromantikos". The album boasts 11 tracks with a strong resemblance to early 90s death/thrash metal along the lines of CELTIC FROST and VENOM. The album begins with a sloth-like dirge in the form of the title track, "Nekromantikos". Tasteful use of timpani, synths and bells sets the pace and thankfully does not drag on; it is just the right length to serve as a nice instrumental introduction before the fast groove-laden "Nocturnal Kill" gives the first exposure of the band in full. Despite the early 90s death metal lineage present in the production, there were a few moments I was reminded musically of "Scum" era NAPALM DEATH. And that was no bad thing either! I would certainly put this track as one of the album stand-outs.

"Zeder" feels quite jarring from the get go and despite trying doesn't tend to recover too well. IT is rather a shame as I would certainly put this as a low point on the album. But we are back to business as usual with "Blind Resurrected". Thankfully this to me is another album standout. It's fast, very memorable riff and very mosh-pit inducing. The appropriately named "The Omen" reprises the album's start with it's resurgence of synths and timpani before exposing it's very definite CELTIC FROST influence. This precedes the album's 6-minute instrumental. I would usually call this a daring move for a debut album. I do believe KRYPTONOMICON have made it work, however! The urgent chanting of Sterle contrasts the slow-moving a doomy backdrop of the rest of the instrumentation really well which keeps interest at a high.

"Thousand Cats" is another track that I absolutely had to play more than once after the initial playthrough. I have absolutely no idea why there are a thousand cats, all I know is I hope they were headbanging cats because this number absolutely calls for it! It is a straight-up groovy thrash track with early death metal production and absolutely capitalising on the band's influences. The album signs off with "Ritual" and "Churchman". The only real detractor are Rossi's snare rolls at the beginning or "Ritual" which feel either sampled or potentially let down somehow during production. Nonetheless, the album's closing tracks are as near as good as it gets. The powerhouse that is "Churchman" certainly leaves the listener wanting more from KRYPTONOMIKON.

The inclusion of the cover track, BAUHAUS' "The Passion Of Lovers" certainly alters the entire pace of the album. I did wonder how KRYPTONOMICON would shoehorn this track into their own style. It is fair to say that they have managed it quite well and have just about managed to make it their own. With some tasteful use of reverb and synth pads to hark back to its gothic roots, it still maintains the ominous overtones that "Nekromantikos" thus far put forth.

Stefano's guitar solos are very well placed, are neither overdone nor detract unnecessarily albeit for a few places where something seems a little off. As the primary songwriter, Stefano has clearly put thought into the entire work and chosen his musical elements well. The production has been well executed and lives up to the band's mission statement. Hence, "Nekromantikos" is certainly an absolute belter of an album that just needs to be turned up loud. And really, isn't that what we all love about metal in the first place? While the production may be polarising and very much takes its lead from early CELTIC FROST and VENOM, it is nonetheless very polished. The album is a great first outing for the band on their new label and certainly worth checking out for any old school thrash or death metal fan.