Fierce and sinister

Dark Funeral has released their seventh full-length album We Are The Apocalypse. The album consists of nine tracks total, all of which contain over 4-minutes of raging and intense guitar riffs. The album follows their 2016 release, Where Shadows Forever Reign, the first album featuring their new vocalist Heljarmadr and earned the band the Swedish P3 Guld and the German Metal Hammer Award.

The self-proclaimed ineffable kings of black metal were established in 1993 by Lord Ahriman and Blackmoon. Dark Funeral was quick to reach success following their debut EP in 1994. The Swedish black metal band earned the title of one of the most intense black metal acts during the second wave of the genre, a depiction that is still true to this day. Dark Funeral is known to have several changes in the group’s line-up, with the band currently consisting of guitarist and founder Lord Ahriman, rhythm guitarist Chaq Mol, vocalist Heljarmadr, bassist Adra-Melek and drummer Jalomaah. Nearing their 30^th Anniversary, We Are The Apocalypse proves the band is still capable of pushing their sinister atmosphere and fierce sound.

We Are The Apocalypse kicks off with intense guitars and a deep growl that immediately pulls the audience’s attention in “Nightfall.” This fiery track is a great opener as it sets the bar quite high with a raging storm of rapid-fire guitar riffs and dark vocals. The album is filled with these killer guitar riffs and beloved aggressiveness with bangers such as “When Our Vengeance Is Done,” “Beyond The Grave” and title track and closer “We Are The Apocalypse.”

“Let The Devil In” allows a moment to breathe as it is one of the slower songs from the album, but still carries that high level of intensity that Dark Funeral is known for. The gloomy lyrics are emphasized by the dark narrations in the middle of each track, adding to the grim atmosphere. Over the years, there has been a shift in lyrics focusing on Satanism, to now focusing on blasphemy and anti-Christian rhetoric. As seen throughout We Are The Apocalypse, Dark Funeral is using parts of the Bible, specifically Revelations and other religious references to the end of the world, and composed a typical anti-Christian Dark Funeral album.

Dark Funeral returns with a freshly lit fiery attitude and shocking guitar riffs in We Are The Apocalypse. They’ve embodied the same intense rage they are known for yet somehow intensified that energy. Dark Funeral is continuing the celebration of the album with a live streaming performance from Stockholm with bands Samael and Eleine on April 16^th on Dramatix.