Barbarian Swords “Anti-Dogma Megaforce” for #MetalChronicles

Band: Barbarian Swords
Title: Anti-Dogma Megaforce
Label: Eternal Juggernaut Records
Release date:  October  6th,  2023
Country: Spain
Format reviewed: High-Quality Digital Recording 

I guess the fact that I was introduced to  Barbarian Swords‘ music this year makes me look at this album differently than their long-time fans must. In fact, this and all their albums. Well, one thing I know for sure, after having listened to the entire Barbarian Swords discography in a few months: these guys do whatever the fuck they want. To put it clear. I mean, at first, they played Black/Doom Metal with extra slow, sometimes agonizing tempos. On their third album, they decided to do something more “upbeat”, and the result was Black Metal music with a punk-ish edge, no Doom. This, just before the pandemic, it is clear that they couldn’t have known what was coming…

And when Covid scourge was over, these guys released the album I want to talk about today, “Anti-Dogma Megaforce”. A beast of an album, I must say. Pure and annihilating Black Metal that destroys the most educated brains. In fact, let me say that in July 2022 Barbarian Swords recorded two albums at the same time: this “Anti-Dogma Megaforce”, released in October 2023, and “Fetid”, which was released six months later (and under another label), and which is more in the style that this band originally had… I guess this is what best illustrates what I think of Barbarian Swords: that they always do what they want. Musically speaking, at least…

Just look at the cover of this “Anti-Dogma Megaforce” and you will realize that we are in front of a brutal album. The illustration, by Chris Moyen, speaks to us of annihilation, anti-Christianity, nihilism, violence, devastation… A burning church, a demonic-looking crusader riding his evil horse, a pile of corpses piled up and a bunch of impaled heads by the path… a bestiality.

The album starts with “Massive Prehistoric Killing Machine”, a declaration of intent; in just three minutes, the killer riffs and guitar work in general destroy your brain, the bass makes your entire digestive system rumble, the relentless drums make your bones creak, the putrid voice regurgitated by vocal cords worthy of a beast from Hell destroys your tympanums… all this, while the lead guitar runs as it pleases, brutalizing the song even more.

The entire album is a constant display of violence, rage, spitted nihilism and anti-religion anthems… Von Päx is constantly vomiting venom in your face with his rotting vocals. Steamroller and Panzer with their 6 string axes destroy and kill any sign of life within miles around. Also, Panzer is in charge of bass, deeply resonating from the dirtiest depths; and he is adding an extra layer of eerie sound here and there with the synths (like in the barbaric “Glorious Deicide”, or in the brutally epic closing theme “A Thousand Impaled Heads”). The drum kit is constantly raped and destroyed by Uretra (drummer in Onirophagus).

If I had to highlight a few parts in “Anti-Dogma Megaforce”, they would be: the crushing sound of drums in the final part of the namesake “Anti-Dogma Megaforce” (well, this entire song destroys EVERYTHING). The brutal aggression in “Nuke Barcelona” (for some reason *cough*, these guys think this city should be annihilated…). The spectral keyboards in “Killer of All Hope” and in “Glorious Deicide”, providing an eerie atmosphere that wraps the brutal and destructive overall sound. The bass, oh that bass plucking here and there, almost everywhere, I looove it. And… the most epic part in this album: the eight minute opus “A Thousand Impaled Heads”, specially from 0’44” until half the song, I feel my brain literally melting in bliss. 

Well, it’s good to feel one’s brain impaled by the most brutal Metal, don’t you think? For me it’s clear.  9,5/10  by  Sílvia

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9,5/10  Epic Storm
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