Shrieking from Finland in a trail of blazing carnage, "Kuoleman portit" by SHADOW'S MORTUARY is hostile as it is real. With fierce riffs upon fierce riffs, the band unleashes an onslaught onto any metalhead that stumbles across it.

From the beginning, the band shows off their subtle Thrash Metal edge. "Sielun tuhkaa" shows off an array of thrashy riffs that lead up to one of the most memorable moments on the record. Halfway through the song, a fierce, slaying riff erupts, ensnaring the listener into the album. This is the hook of the record, what draws someone in and drags them to the fathomless depths that this album reaches.

With a strong start, it became a moment to live up to, and the band delivered generously. While scarcely revisiting the same level of intense Thrash Metal, the rest of the album carries out an equally intense level of Black Metal. A strong Black Metal song is difficult to compose, but Shadow's Mortuary seem to have created eight of them, and they never get old.

Of all the riffs on this record, a few are more notable than most. "Soihdunkantaja" has a very abrasive collection of DESTRÖYER 666-like riffs. The flow is fierce and abrasive as the song never stops delivering strong riffs. This same attack is seen on the previous track, "Virran viemä, tulen tuoma."

The guitars are a clear highlight, but one other band member shines very bright on this record: Ovda, the drummer. The drums are written in a way that is outside of the box - blast beats and D-beats are used but not abused while Ovda creates a sense of groove throughout the album on "Ikisodan hurmo," "Ouroboros" and "Soihdunkantaja." The drums stand out in the mix, and for good reason, as they are one of the most active of all the moving pieces this record possesses.

As a second full-length, this is very well-crafted. Shadow's Mortuary combines MAYHEM and DARKTHRONE with subtle splashes of Thrash Metal in the vein of DESTRÖYER 666 and SODOM. Having a runtime just shy of 31 minutes, the record is brief yet fortified. Each track has strength in its riffs and structure with drums that give it a heavy and groovy edge and vocals that act as a bleak, cold cherry on top.