1st May 2022

Review: “Orisons of Vengeance” by Molten Chains

Recorded, mixed, mastered and co-produced by Thomas Taube at Five Lakes Studios in Bavaria, Germany during the month of August 2021, “Orisons of Vengeance” is the third burnt offering from Vienna based trio Molten Chains, a band who are gaining a reputation for themselves for the alchemy they create. Drawing inspiration from the winds of plague in the four corners of the Globe, from obscure Heavy Metal, Black Metal and the avant-garde, the trio known simply as Deathromancer, Graf Gyula and Michi Von Rosenkranz have both delighted and disturbed with predecessors 2019’s “In the Antechamber Below” and 2020’s “Torment Enshrined“.

Whilst the imagery, song titles and aesthetic of Molten Chains may take a page from the Black Metal playbook other than bursts of rampaging blast beats, there is actually only a minimal amount of the genre within the bands over arching sound and in point of fact with “Orisons of Vengeance” they could easily be dubbed a Blackened Thrash outfit. They are a band who defy many a genre standard and goes off their own direction, doing as they choose with as may bizarre twists and turns as they wish to take. Their style is one of overloaded riffs that build upon Thrash roots with avant-garde leanings that make each song a virtuoso affair of majesty that dances in the black flames of the occult inspired lyrics to create an otherworldly dynamic which can not be repressed. The vocal style sounds like it’s been inspired by Dead Kennedys mastermind Jello Biafra with a snarling aggressive edge to unhinged expression in clean tones that mean every single word is heard loud and clear with a brashly and brazen mercurial nature. That can only be a good thing with the album being conceptual one full of tales of Shakespearean proportions, the unclean backing vocal layer of “Communion” being the only variation on that theme. Both opener “God Hand” and “Crimson Equinox” have face melting and eccentric solos to match the eclectic nature of each beasts but the one in the finale “Martyrdom” is the stone cold winner, straight out of the 80’s Thrash nostalgia black book. There are some moments of melody that are inspired by those of “Master of Puppets” era Metallica which perforate the album at various points, perhaps an influence bleeding through the bandages but it’s the spoken word that introduces “Crimson Equinox” which is the biggest surprise, sounding very close to the Australian accent. In being unconventional “Orisons of Vengeance” has oceans of charm which win you over with each repeated listen, the raised eyebrow becoming the knowing smile and to that end, Molten Chains have to go down as one of the most unique bands around [7/10]

Track listing