From Bandcamp, “The album "Samnite Black Metal" delves into the dark and ancestral rites of the Samnites, an ancient warrior people of southern Italy. Each track is a descent into a sonic abyss of primal fury, evoking the mysticism and brutality of their rituals tied to the forces of nature. The dark and powerful soundscapes reflect the courage and rage of a people who fought to their last breath, invoking arcane deities and practicing ancient rites of war and sacrifice.”

The album has nine songs, and “Ver Sacrum” is first. Out of the gates, it has an aggressive bite from the deep, harsh vocals, and the guitar riffs, painting a harrowing picture for the listener. There is also some melody in the chorus, though it is short lived. Rolling into “Cutilia,” the contentious sound continues. The ever-present drumming fuels much of the aggression. It sounds like a swarm of angry bees on the warpath. “Hirpus” begins with distant thunder claps, some light rain, and the howling of wolves. It explodes from there, with a dense and thick aggressive sound, but once again, there is some melody in the chorus.

“Kerres” is shorter, faster, and more energetic, and it uses a Thrash riff as fuel. The brief spoken words also add a layer of evil to the song. “Caereris Mundus” uses a combination of thick riffs, powerful drums, some meaty bass notes, and deadly vocals to tell the tale. At times the backing vocals create a deep, cavernous sound as well. “Mors Vitam Vicit” is longest, at over seven minutes. It begins with a depressive march, sounding like undead soldiers who are weary from battle. They continue to tramp through rain and cold winds for what seems like forever. The title track begins with brief, somber acoustic guitars before it quickly segues into more heavy aggression.

“Outro” closes the album, and it’s a tender piano led number with vocals that sound haunting in the background, the perfect way to close an album. Overall, this was an enjoyable experience. The aggressiveness of the album is its best feature, as well as the harrowing vocals. Combined with machine gun drumming and thick bass notes, it made for a memorable album.