‘Black Vitriol & Iron Fire’ is an 2021 EP and third release by Russian Death/Black Metal band Thanatomass, released on vinyl, CD, and cassette formats.
It features five tracks steeped in occult and ritualistic themes, with Latin and pseudo-Latin titles.
This EP was released on September 20, 2021 via Nomad Snakepit Productions (Netherlands) and Lvx Morgenstern/Living Temple Records (Russia). It runs for about 32 minutes and was recorded at CDM Records Studio between 2019 and 2020.
The release is notable for its elaborate packaging: a metallic silver sleeve, two posters, and a 12″ insert. The first vinyl edition was limited to 100 hand-numbered copies, while the second pressing had 250 copies.
We already reviewed the re-released 2018/2020 demo. Musically, this EP fuses Death Metal and Black Metal, with some rabid Thrash Metal elements, characterized by chaotic riffing, cavernous vocals, and ritualistic atmospheres.
The lyrical and visual aesthetic leans heavily into satanic liturgy, funerary rites, and esoteric symbolism, aligning with the band’s previous work and underground Russian Death/Black Metal traditions. The sound is a lot deeper than on their demo debut; this suffocating atmosphere reminds me even more of Pseudogod and Teitanblood. The songtitles blend Latin/pseudo-Latin and hazy occult terminology, evoking themes of ritual, death worship, and satanic mysticism.
Uncanny sounds and chimes set the stage for a genuine hellish black mass. Sometimes, it feels like my face is melting away under this torrid pressure. It could also be the Mexican food I ate earlier. Nonetheless, Thanatomass keep everything under tight control, which is a strong asset for the cohesion of their music.
Utterly demonic and with a hefty dose of bestialism, ‘Black Vitrol & Iron Fire’ grinds, claws and gnarls itself a path to the pitch Seventh Circle of Hell.
This third release and second EP from those brutal Russians gets a maximum score from me, and those who weren’t convinced by the debut should listen to this one.
