Towards Hellfire - Death upon the Holy Throne

TOWARDS HELLFIRE - Death upon the Holy Throne (PUTRID CULT - CD 2023)

First time I heard the name Towards Hellfire, I found out also about two things, which are very relevant to this band. First was the fact that Bloodthirst split up – which I had no idea about. A shame, as they were a solid thrash metal kommando. Second was the fact that Rambo from Bloodthirst quickly formed a new band. Obviously, he’s in Hell-Born too, but together with Diabolizer (also from Hell-Born, as well as Moloch Letalis and Throneum, to name just few bands he plays in) and Pilaf (Abhorrent Funeral) they created Towards Hellfire. I have no clue when the idea for Towards Hellfire was actually born nor who’s responsible mostly for the creation of this band and its music. I know nothing! But I can tell that their debut album “Death upon the Holy Throne” is brilliant. I’ve been playing it a lot in the recent weeks, probably more than any other CD, which I’ve got recently. And you know what? I still feel like I have not enough and can carry on. Such a good album. 

And if I was going to introduce Towards Hellfire music in few words only, then I would describe it as fast, fooookin vicious, yet quite melodic, very thrashing black metal. Towards Hellfire really doesn’t waste time, from the first song they rip through the speakers with some fast, relentless shit. But I really like how along that venom and aggression, also comes dark, eerie atmosphere and plenty of melody... which is maybe why there’s an impression that the music sounds slightly in the Swedish black metal vein. Some will say that it’s a bit like Dissection, I would rather point a speedier Merciless for instance... Whatever you will hear, it doesn’t matter, take that as a compliment and one of the few points of reference. What matters the most is how nicely all these influences – from thrash and death metal to fast, melodic black metal – work together and how Towards Hellfire plays them in more obscure and rawer version. At the same time, I feel like all these songs from “Death upon the Holy Throne” are really memorable and easily to get into and never dull. It didn’t take long before a lot of these riffs stack in my head and caused huge havoc there. Which is good of corpse, especially if you’re in mood for such straight forward, energetic black metal.  

I suppose that’s all I have to say about “Death upon the Holy Throne”. It's 40 minutes of bloodthirsty metal and I do recommend it fully. I’m really looking forward to hear more from Towards Hellfire in the future. 

Verdict: 85 / 100