Review: “Labyrinth Of Anguish” by Tenebrific

A fresh studio project painting in Blackened Death Metal from the backwoods of Australia, Tenebrific is the brainchild of collaborators Adam Martin (Golgothan Remains, Sarcophagum) and Cris Bassan (Decrepid). Described as a glimpse into the abyss of existential despair, inviting listeners to confront their own inner demons and navigate the labyrinth of anguish, the duo offer a debut EP which stands as a testament to the boundless depths of human suffering and the eternal struggle against the darkness that lurks within. Mixed and mastered by Greg Chandler (Heltekvad, Bezwering, Fleurety) at Priory Recording Studios, the ominous sounding affair finds them joined by session drummer Robin Stone (Blast Bunker) as well as a pair of guest lead guitarists…

…An unholy trinity of burnt offerings as a virgin sacrifice, “Labyrinth Of Anguish” is twenty two minutes of dread soaked atmospheric oppression with bone crushingly heavy riffs and haunting melodies in the vein of bands like Chestcrush and Penny Coffin. As if recorded in a dark, damp basement torture chamber hell, the feedback laden “Harmony Ov Suffering” is slow death by sleep depravation that as desperate as the throat scraping vocals are ferocious. Its hard to determine if what you are witnessing is her ghost in the fog or a demon summoned forth to take your soul but each moment is a cathartic release of anguish that may leave you wondering what you just heard. The howling of a tornado of souls whispers in madness and malevolence as “Tormenting Shadows” rises from the grave, a solo from Peter Bursky of Sumeru and Brilliant Emperor fame adding a moment to be worshipped to an incredible performance from Stone behind the kit. The mid-tempo riffage laden moments cut like a razor as they accompany the demonic vocals, graciously tempo shifting into blast beats and staccato riff infestations with violent delight. If this is a journey down the left hand path to eventual self immolation then a more refined hellish one with this much weight and gravity to it you’re unlikely to find. The gloomy atmospheric continues into the ominously titled “The Final Offering“, a cut which finds former Repugnant Inebriation  guitarist Jay Dawkins lending his strings. An acoustic introduction makes way for some more traditional Black Metal orientated riffage, the galloping drums driving things forward at the tempo of the damned. The epic solo is an absolute face melting moment while the leads which follow are just as glorious, as if the band are mimicking the savage beauty of nature on this one and it needs to be witnessed to be believed [7.5/10]

Track Listing

1. Harmony Ov Suffering
2. Tormenting Shadows (ft. Peter Bursky of Sumeru, Brilliant Emperor)
3. The Final Offering (ft. Jay Dawkins ex-Repugnant Inebriation)

“Labyrinth Of Anguish” by Tenebrific will be released on 8th April 2024 and is available over at bandcamp