(written by Islander)
The U.S. black metal band Sicarius has a storied history, one that includes two albums released in 2017 and 2020 by M-Theory Audio, extensive touring, and stage performances with such bands as 1349, Goatwhore, Vader, Marduk, Disgorge, and Incantation. But in the next few years following release of their second album, the band essentially dissolved and was left for dead.
Yet a resurrection has occurred. The band’s co-founders Argyris and Carnage reconnected and have rebuilt the dead organism of Sicarius. We’re told that they began writing and recording new songs in 2024, pulling influences from bands such as Bathory, Rotting Christ, Dissection, Mayhem, Urghehal, Marduk, and Absu, and fusing in elements from groups like Type O Negative. They also brought on board a new vocalist of wide-ranging power, Akefalos.
And now their work on a new album named Nex is complete, and the record is set for release on April 10th by Adirondack Black Mass. It is described as “a 10-track story about loss, death, retribution, and fury that honors tradition while being unafraid to venture on its own.” It’s the album’s title track that we bring you today through a lyric video — a song that includes a guest performance by guitarist Charles Hedger (Ghul) of Mayhem.
Those words we quoted above — those references to loss, death, retribution, and fury — they all become manifest with visceral power in this new title song.
In the overture of “Nex” the music gradually swells, creating a spreading sense of emotional darkness and daunting grandeur. As the music towers and pounds the vocals are particularly striking, suddenly spearing upward in imperious cries.
Dialing up the intensity even further, Sicarius leap forward with furiously battering drums, thundering low frequencies, and guitars that both expansively blaze and maniacally roil in piercing tones. Matching the firebrand intensity of the music, the vocals transform into scorching screams and haughty roars.
The warlike fury in the music is palpable and all-consuming, but the song also seems to channel frenzied desperation as well as berserker delirium. A guitar solo near the song’s mid-point is especially electrifying as it frantically swirls, spirals high, and seems to wail.
But there is indeed a feeling of loss in the song as well. In the track’s penultimate phase the frantic pace subsides, and as the drums tumble and boom an eerily haunting and bereft melody slowly peals and writhes. Even when the band rumble and sear the listener again and strident occult chants resume, the music remains unsettling.
Adirondack Black Mass will release Nex on CD, cassette tape, and digital formats, and you can find pre-order opportunities via the links below. Also below, you’ll find a stream of the album’s first single, a head-spinning (and frightening) scorcher aptly named “An Aptitude For Elimination“.
PRE-ORDER:
https://adirondackblackmass.bigcartel.com/product/sicarius-nex-cdtape-abm-105
https://adirondackblackmass.bandcamp.com/album/nex
SICARIUS:
https://sicariusblackmetal.bandcamp.com/
https://linktr.ee/sicariususbm
https://www.facebook.com/sicariusblackmetal/
https://www.instagram.com/sicariusofficial