Rage Nucleaire-Unrelenting Fucking Hatred (Black Metal) (3.5/5)

For those so far unawaire of a band known as Rage Nucleaire or their 2012 debut Unrelenting F*cking Hatred, they are the new project of former Cryptopsy vocals legend and part-time English Literature teacher Lord Worm, one of the most highly revered death metal bands of all time for their legendary sophomore album None So Vile. On that album Lord Worm showed off an incredible range in vocals with some ridiculously gutteral and low growls coupled with some shrieks that really get under the listeners skin. And how does uncontestably one of the best of the death metal genre announce his grand comeback to the music scene? With a black metal band as opposed to the genre that made him popular. To some this may seem like a foolish move as the vocal styles are complete opposite. However for those more in touch with Cryptopsy's earlier works they will know that Lord Worm's screams were not THAT far removed from the traditional black metal style of screaming anyway and would at least have gave this a shot. The latter crowd is the more intelligent of the two.

Completing the Rage Nucleaire lineup are drummer Fredrik Widigs, guitarist Dark Rage and bassist Alvater. These four men have created one of the best black metal albums in recent years with some lightning fast riffing, unrelenting f*cking drumming and some truly stomach churning screams Lord Worm. As far as atmospherical music goes it does not get much better than this as what is found on songs such as Sorrow Children At Morningside and Violence Is Golden is a completely apocalyptic sound unlike many bands out there. The talent is there, with the album being completely bezerk on all frontiers with the usual flurry of tremolo picked notes from Dark Rage and the ridiculously fast drumming from Widigs but it is Lord Worm who stands out the most, as was to be expected. The transition from his death metal hayday has been a brilliant one and he can cut it right up there with some of the best vocalists in the genre. As an overall product this does not compare to such albums as De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas but it sure as hell cuts a path for itself among a genre saturated with bands doing the same album over and over again.

Violence Is Golden opens up with some fantastic triple drum beats and a crazily fast riff behind it that then launches into a blitzkrieg of unrelenting f*cking hatred unlike anything that you have ever heard before. The over-use of the cymbals may strike you at first but when that groovey slightly slower riff kicks in just before the one minute mark you will find that they are right at home amongst this, the most hate filled album in existance. The riff set to this song makes it stand out to the listener right from the off and never lets up. Every song on this album is a masterpiece and many of them blend together seamlessly to make one long tapestry of unrelenting f*cking hatred but it is Violence Is Golden that sticks out as the best song on the album. Not a lot else can really be said about the individual songs themselves as they all follow the same template of just being songs between three and six minutes that each blast away with the characteristic hatred that should be expected from the former Cryptopsy frontman.

For those wanting a fantastic black metal album that never takes the blade away from your throat for one second then Rage Nucleaire's marvelous hate-influxed Unrelenting F*cking Hatred is the one to go for this year and stands proud as one of the best albums of the year, far eclipsing the latest album from Worm's former band. He truly has not lost his ability to shine even after twenty years of harsh vocals and a change in style to the complete opposite of everything he once did, but it is not just Worm who stands out as every member of this band is equally talented. Be prepared to be amazed.