Like an unexpected, rusty blade drawn across the throat in a pitch-black alley, Dunkirk’s Mortal Scepter have returned after a six-year dormancy to spill blood. Their sophomore full-length, ‘Ethereal Dominance’, issued via Xtreem Music, is a violent masterclass in pure, unadulterated Death/Thrash Metal insanity that sounds like it was unearthed from a 1989 tape-trading circuit.
Instead of falling into the over-polished traps of modern retro-thrash, these French maniacs anchor themselves firmly in the savage, hyper-speed lineage of early Massacra and the razor-sharp, technical malice of Coroner and Sadus. Imagine the primitive, blackened filth of early Sepultura colliding head-on with the relentless, muscular battery of Dark Angel. The production here achieves a rare feat: preserving a gritty, raw extremity while utilizing modern engineering precision so that every frantic bass line and chaotic riff cuts through the mix with distinct separation.
Rather than dragging, the songwriting thrives on razor-sharp execution. Standout salvos like ‘Redshifting to Death’ and the dizzying aggression of ‘Reverse Paradigm’ showcase a band possessing a terrifying control over their sonic violence. It is relentless, neck-snapping, and completely devoid of modern compromise.
If you worship at the altar of ancient, speed-driven extremity, this is essential listening.
