Review FRIENDS OF HELL ‘Friends of Hell’

Fans of doom metal might have heard of Friends Of Hell already. The idea for this doom metal outfit comes from Tas Danazoglou (Satan’s Wrath / Ex-Electric Wizard) and Albert Witchfinder (Opium Warlords / Ex-Reverend Bizarre).

Friends Of Hell stand for slow-paced heavy metal that is evil and fascinates by ist hellish grin that shimmers through while listening to tracks like the snail-paced ‚Shadow of the Impaler‘. Already the bloodcurdling screams in the beginning of this musical monolith leads to a feeling of unease. Lyrically inspired by horror movies from then’70s, Friends Of Hell are able to transport the emotional aspect of these movies into their song structure.

Cathedral, St. Vitus and Candlemass, they all influenced the music of Friends Of Hell that also entails Venom and Hellhammer cross-references. The massive ‘Into My Coffin’ and the snail-paced ‘Gateless Gate’ are characterized by colossal riff power.These songs don’t initiate any bright moments. It’s the sound of the abyss that leads to an devilish glance.

Also to mention is ‘Evil They Call Us’. The roaring song is a pounding hymn with a chorus that is made for live shows with a shouting crowd: “Evil they call us. and evil we are”. In a way this is the essential summary of what this album is all about.

‘Friends Of Hell’ is one of the best doom metal releases in 2022, to date. Well-forged metal, that is what crawls out of the speakers, music with the ability to push heavy clouds in front of the springlike sun. The only light that is allowed while listening to this album are the flames of purgatory.