Thrash/Black Metal from the Australian city of Brisbane in Queensland. That is what MAGES TERROR brings to my turntable. Sorry, not quite true, as I am listening to digitally sent files, but what the heck, it sounded good to write it down that way. Well, at least the guys have it right, as what I hear on the debut album “Damnations Sight” is just that. And the combination works for them. What my review will be lacking now is the facts about when the band was formed and except for a 2023 demo without a title I can't find anything other on their list of released. “Damnations Sight” was released on the 12th of July 2024 and I for one feel that Invictus Productions were right to put this on the market.

I really do like the mix of Thrash and Black metal that MAGES TERROR is throwing at me, as it makes for an interesting combination that has me enjoying the music a whole lot more than I thought would be possible. This rocks, this rips, this shreds, but most important of all, this moves. It moves me, it moves my brain, it moves my feet and it even moves my head. The voice of Stillborn is a typical Black Metal one. It is on top of guitar riffs that are either Thrash or Black Metal orientated, and often simply switch from one to the other. And back! As a backbone you have solid bass lines, but also a drummer that is capable of playing both musical styles interwoven with each other. But he also has mastered both genres separately.

The songs on “Damnations Sight” themselves surprise me. They are well thought through, have substance, make sense and feel like coming from a band with a lot of experience. With the names in the lineup given as they are (I suspect the are pseudonyms. Oh really? Yes, really!!) there is no way of determining how much of a musical past these guys have. By the way, ik suspect that they are guys, but who says they can't be women? I for one can't distinguish what would be the truth in this. Back to the music, yes, I like what I hear, all 35 minutes of it. If, like me, you are one of those who loves to hear things being mixed up in a good way, you could do a lot worse than giving MAGES TERROR a listen. Especially if you love your Thrash and Black Metal, because then you would have a healthy dose of bloody good noise with “Damnations Sight”.