A few months ago, I reviewed the debut demo from this Chilean horde, a band about which I couldn’t find much information. At the time, I merely dipped my toes into a cursed abyss of mystery and southern darkness, and that abyss returned a solid Raw Black Metal demo to me. So, this time around, we venture once more into the cold, mountainous regions of the south to see what WampyrKult’s latest release, ‘Wampyric Tyrannis’, has in store. It is remarkable how bands like Satanic Warmaster and Drowning the Light have made such a deep impact over the last two decades with their satanic themes; folklore, vampiric myths, and lycanthropic incantations have served as inspiration for many up-and-coming bands, and WampyrKult is no exception, even offering a nod to Drowning the Light through their use of the letters ‘W’ and ‘K’.
Returning to the demo in question, it features cover art that is more elaborate and symbolic than that of the previous release; at first glance, the artwork evokes the style of bands aligned with the orthodox path of Black Metal. However, listeners are in for a pleasant surprise: as the intro, ‘Iter ad Tenebras’, fades out, a cold, foul-smelling blast of wind from the south strikes with the full fury of Raw Black Metal. The track ‘Cripta’ exudes a sonic stench strongly reminiscent of the raw sounds of the past, maintaining the enduring minimalist approach B. Wampyr has employed since the previous demo. As I initially suspected, ‘La Peste’ spreads its wings of death, revealing influences from Drowning the Light and, arguably, Moonblood; the track features excellent riffs that weep with agonizing nostalgia, driven by a triumphant, galloping rhythm, while the vocal phrasing, dripping with hatred, dissolves the lyrics glorifying the Plague. It is a great track, though ironically the shortest on the demo.
Next, ‘Liturgia’ strikes with the expected violence; carrying the nostalgic bones of the previous track, the drums hammer away relentlessly, shifting only when the guitar rhythms turn sinister: a perfect prelude to the title track. That song hooks you instantly with its opening drumbeat, while ‘Wampyric Tyrannis’ boasts dynamic rhythm changes, making it varied and immediately satisfying to any ‘rotten ear’. It features keyboards and tremolo-picked riffs with high notes, alongside vocals that, to be honest, are mixed a bit low compared to the instruments. But what the hell am I saying? This is a Raw Black Metal demo, and that’s exactly how it should sound! ‘Tormento’ follows the trail of death left by the preceding tracks, delivering solid riffs, like the one in the chorus, torn apart by the vocals, and employing the classic formula of returning to the opening patterns and repeating rhythmic sections until the scythe falls upon the neck.
Finally, ‘Tyrannis Sanguinis’ attacks with even greater speed and violence; that opening shriek heralds the catastrophe: an excellent way to light the candles upon the altar. Riffs fly like ancient curses in the night, leading to a repetitive finale that feels like burning a flesh offering while simultaneously screaming a proclamation right in everyone’s face: ‘El pueblo se arrodilla ante el tirano, el pueblo se arrodilla ante su poder’. Be that as it may, and may curses crucify the weak!
