Review: “Fire and Blood” by Viserion

Engineered and recorded by Billy Pfister (Dead City Crown, Solemn Vision, Terror Garden), mixed by Chris Grigg (Woe, Primordial, Infernal Stronghold), mastered by Jacob Buczarski (Palace Of The Widow, Mare Cognitum, Beneath Moonlight) and adorned by Hubert Robert’s painting “Fire in Rome”, Queens New York Black Metal act Viserion present their vision of a world inspired by George R.R. Martin’s Game of Thrones universe in “Fire and Blood“. Featuring in their ranks musicians known for their prior convictions in Hollow Voice, Moniasin and Nascentum, they have worked tirelessly since 2019, unveiling debut album “Natural Selection” in 2021.

Named after the house words of the Targaryen dynasty, title track “Fire and Blood” introduces the fierce blend of aggresive Black Metal Viserion are known for with guitarist and vocalist Benedetto Marvilli issuing war cries in death growls and shrill shreaks. The contrast is such that it creates the illusion of two vocalists when there is only one, the savage nature of the undertaking as brutal as they come. From tremolo picked guitars to blistering blast beats from drummer Matthew Marvilli and a blistering solo, it’s as scalding an opening sonic abrasion as you could wish for. Wasting no time resting on their laurels the quartet increase the intensity with mid-tempo crusher “Mad King“, a vicious little ditty that bursts with fleeting tempo changes, introducing increasingly more malevolent sounds in the process. The surprise comes with the Scandiavian meloncholia of the rhythm guitars in the final third, the bands influences from the likes of Satyricon and Gates of Ishtar bleeding through the bandages. Lyrically exploring the delusions and cruelty of King Aerys II that ultimately lead to his untimely demise with odd time signatures to add a sense of unease makes for something that works disturbingly well.

One of the great things about this record is that engineer Billy Pfister has managed to give Viserion a raw sound vocally without destroying any of the dark and brooding atmospheres they create sonically, something which shines through the dark clouds on raging infernos like “Reign of Fire“. Another blistering mid-tempo cut with sweeping rhythms that heighten the senses, this tale of Aegon The Conqueror and his dragon Balerion has the lyrical grace of something you might expect in Power Metal lore but sonically and vocally instead finds its home in second wave of Black Metal like it was born to be there. Billy Pfister adds haunting, ethereally atmospheric keys to “Blackfyre“, a cut that finds Benedetto Marvilli at his finest in terms of storytelling, as he recounts a tale of rebellion soaked in dark rhythms. A solo on this one is something of a surprise, leaping out of the waves of Black Metal with something of a Bewitcher air to it but despite being a little quirky, it works well. The destruction of Lord Harren’s fortress is told with rich, dark and angished meloncholia in “Harrenhal” a tune that leaves you wanting more after it has played out. That is acheived with instrumentation that grows more abrassive and intense with each second that passes, the eerie melodic solo adding a spellbinding moment of madness. Capturing the somber mood of despair perfectly, this one will leave you starring into the middle distance and wondering exactly what you just heard [7.5/10]

Track Listing

1. Fire and Blood
2. Mad King
3. Reign of Fire
4. Blackfyre
5. Harrenhal

“Fire and Blood” by Viserion is out 16th January 2026 via Terminus Hate City Records and is available over at bandcamp