Helgrind - Dawn of Bestial Lust (Black Metal)

Dawn of Bestial Lust, the enigmatic 2024 morbid monstrosity from Helgrind, stands as a fleeting yet potent delve into the raw ferocity of bestial black metal. Helgrind is a band shrouded in mystery, seemingly emerging from the ether, offering a scant but impactful catalog, and disappearing as quickly as they appeared. Adding to the mystique is the confusion surrounding its release — long rumored to have been issued under the legendary The Satan Records banner, though ultimately self-produced and self-released according to many sources. Such an association could have elevated its stature, but the music itself proves deserving of recognition, regardless of label affiliation.

My introduction to Helgrind came serendipitously through Warkvlt's Unholy War Metal and their blistering cover of "Dawn of Bestial Lust". Intrigued, I began my search for the original material and eventually stumbled upon the record while in Oslo, ironically through a connection with Euronymous' record label. From the moment I pressed play, I was plunged into a world of occult darkness and primal malevolence. The album satisfies a hunger for raw, ritualistic black metal — a hunger few releases have the audacity to sate.

Sonically, Dawn of Bestial Lust is steeped in the grim aesthetic of its era: raw yet surprisingly well-mixed for a demo of this type. The sound is feral and minimalist, adhering to a stripped-down ethos that borders on trance-inducing. Each track charges forward with relentless intensity, offering little variation in tempo or structure but instead emphasizing a ritualistic cadence. Tracks like "A Dark Paradise" showcase an almost hypnotic quality, with eerie opening riffs that evoke a foreboding sense of unseen horrors. The vocals, delivered as guttural chants to some abyssal force, enhance the atmosphere of primal devotion.

Midway through, the album shifts tone with "The Nature of the Beast", a standout track that departs from the relentless aggression to explore a slower, mournful pacing. Here, the riffs are given space to breathe, unfolding into something both haunting and introspective. The track feels like a descent into even darker depths, a moment where the band's songwriting transcends raw aggression to deliver something truly atmospheric. Echoes of Helgrind's earlier release, "Sick Rulers of Heaven", resound in the brutal, ritualistic undertones, and inspiration from Vermin's Memories of Blood and Darkness terrifying atmosphere particularly find their way in tracks like "Putrid Pile of Dark Flesh".

The remainder of the album returns to the established formula: tremolo-picked riffs, relentless blast beats, and guttural, melody-free vocals. Yet within these parameters, Helgrind manages to carve distinct identities for each song. What may initially seem like homogeneity reveals its subtle intricacies upon closer listening, as riffs and song structures distinguish themselves with each playthrough. The tremolo-picked solos, in particular, serve as highlights, injecting a brief yet searing flair into the relentless sonic assault.

Critics may dismiss the record as overly repetitive, but such an evaluation misses the point entirely. Dawn of Bestial Lust is not an exercise in progressive evolution but a celebration of black metal's most primitive, unfiltered roots. Its rawness and intensity are the very features that make it so compelling. It is not an album to be enjoyed casually; it demands the right setting — dim candlelight, dense shadows, and a readiness to embrace its ritualistic spirit.

Though it may not revolutionize the genre, Dawn of Bestial Lust leaves an indelible mark on the landscape of black metal. Helgrind's ephemeral presence only amplifies the mystique and power of this recording. For those who seek pure, unadulterated black metal steeped in darkness and bestiality, this album Dawn of Bestial Lust is essential. Light the candles, let the shadows dance, and surrender to the raw power of Helgrind.

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