Castrivenian is a relatively new entity from Brazil that was formed earlier in 2024. The band released their first demo ‘S.H.T.I.’ earlier in April, but with fires of creativity burning brightly, immediately started work on the next demo. That has now arrived in the shape of ‘Eternal Fog’s Rebirth’, initially on digital formats released on Bandcamp but with a tape release courtesy of Wolfkult Religion on the horizon.
The musical inspiration of Castrivenian is very clearly directed at the European mainland, and in particular the Black Metal scene of the second half of the 90’s. With a clear infusion of early Satanic Warmaster, the first few albums of Marduk and a dose of Moonblood, the raw Black Metal of the Brazilians has the typical honest and dedicated energy that so typifies the South American extreme music scene. I’m certain that at no point Castrivenian intended to reinvent the wheel of Black Metal, but in doing so they struck a charming formula centered around a few darn good riffs per song.
In comparison to their first demo, the band has improved leaps and bounds, offering a much more focused and mature recording. With the crashing wall of drums and slightly obscured shrieks, the production is rawer than on the first demo, yet it allows better room for atmosphere-enhancing keyboards in for instance ‘Lunar Winter’. But most of all, it places the menacing guitar riffs at the centre stage to conjure their entrancing atmosphere. While the opener is more relentless in pace, the subsequent title track conveys a similar ambiance in a slower and strumming manner. Once again, Castrivenian shows it understands the hypnotising art of sticking to a few good riffs, keeping variety in changing drums and placement of vocals rather than an endless flurry of riffs. The following ‘Rites of a Black Empire’ is more venomous in drum pace and vocal delivery, with a hypnotic main riff separated by an almost Doomy intermezzo. Ending with pumping rocking rhythms and furious outbursts, ‘Under a Dirae Tenebrae’ wraps up the 20 minutes nostalgic ride into Raw and Atmospheric Black Metal history.
With their second demo, Castrivenian delivers a heartfelt hommage to Scandinavian and German Black Metal of the late 90’s. Raw in sound, the finesse lies hidden in the emphasis on a few excellent and hypnotising riffs that altogether make ‘Eternal Fog’s Rebirth’ a charming and promising raw Black Metal release.
