Illum Adora – Non Serviam Black Metal (The Demos) [Compilation]

Illum Adora is a German black metal band from Koblenz, formed in 2011 and active on Folter Records. Their lyrical themes revolve around occultism, Satanism, and philosophy, aligning with a traditional, old-school Black Metal approach.

The project is closely associated with Hurricane Hellfukker (also of Zarathustra), with live and studio support from international session members across bands like Countess and Unholy War. Members include/have included Mortüüm (drums; Countess), Haxa (keyboards; Countess), Shargaz Isidor (guitars/vocals; Unholy War), and Jormundgand (bass; In Corpore Mortis)

References in coverage draw lines to Katharsis, Urgehal, the older Watain, and orthodox Black Metal textures, while Countess-affiliated musicians leave a ritualistic imprint on arrangements. Their ‘…Of Serpentine Forces’ (2019) album got good reviews from the German press. The same applied for the ‘Ophidian Kult’ (2021) album.

This ‘Non Serviam Black Metal (The Demos)’ is a 2023 re-release of both demos ‘Begotten’ (2015) and ‘Unchained from Slavery’ (2016) on CD, which almost eluded us. A worthy initiative by Fallen Temple from Poland. These two demo’s reveal raw, unpolished occult Black Metal from the second wave with influences from Ondskapt, Desaster, old Satyricon and even Varathron. It’s interesting to hear their first efforts. There’s an Acid cover (Belgian Speed Metal band) and a Plasmatics cover on this compilation.

Fans of Illum Adora’s Deutsches Schwarzmetall or old school Black Metal – no need to back down.