Review NUNSLAUGHTER “Satanic Chaos Legions“

Nunslaughter, a blasphemic metal band based in Cleveland, Ohio, started their musical journey in 1987 after being known as Death Sentence for two years. Scrolling through the band’s discography, you’ll notice that full-length releases are rather limited. EPs, split releases, and live recordings dominate a list that includes five studio albums.

Five years after launching “Red Is the Color of Ripping Death,” the band unveils their sixth studio album. “Satanic Chaos Legions” is the title of the new album, and we will start with the title track. A marching intro announces the arrival of the legions, leading to a blistering metal track that hits the bullseye. There’s no doubt that Nunslaughter is pushing the limits of extreme metal on their latest release.

“Jesus Fucking Dies” shows that their church is filled with the smell of brimstone, and purgatory shines brightly. Lucifer and the abyss are common lyrical themes for a band that wants to shock, and it certainly resonates with some listeners.

More important, though, is the musical aspect. Nunslaughter provides a furious blend of components. There’s the evil of death metal, the power of thrash metal riffs, blasphemous black metal moments, and the anarchy of punk. The band brings all these influences together, resulting in a furious album. One song that exemplifies this blend is “Christian Ruse.”

Blastbeat parts, like those in “Die Your Own Death,” can be found in “Satanic Chaos Legions,” as well as bass-driven doom thunders, like in “Peukharist.” The glue holding these songs together is the sinister vibe and aggressiveness of their music, independent of tempo. “Heavenless” is another crawling riff monster that grins at you before “Lucifer the Light” hits you in the face.

“Satanic Chaos Legions” is a blasphemous eruption influenced by bands like Slayer and Venom, while the riff of “Peukharist” reminded me of Pantera. This sulfurous release reflects the raw, untamed energy and rebellious foundation of heavy metal.