Total devastation ? Misanthrope creation. I?ve had to wait a long LONG time to get my dirty fingers on this one. In 1998 the Panchrysia guys started out as Zarathustra playing some form of Gothenburg death metal and released a few demo?s. The band?s debut was brought by the LSP Company and received overall  good reviews, though the link with Immortal (read: music) and Zyklon (read: lay out) was undeniable. Their label went bankrupt and the parasite?s new host became Soulreaper Records, a subdivision of the hardcore Goodlife Records.

As I saw the band on stage like a zillion times before I knew the Immortal touch has diminished and the songs improved a lot. But I also knew ?Malicious parasite? wasn?t Panchrysia?s further step leading to an own identity. This time the whole package, music and lay out is flirting with the Moonfog generation. For those who still don?t get the clue: I?m referring to Satyricon, Thorns, Khold, Disiplin and the newer Darkthrone. Sadly I have to say Panchrysia doesn?t add something new to the northern heritage, no, but they do sound refreshing. What other bands can hold up the level of the bands I just mentioned? What bands actually do play this subgenre of modern black metal? It?s perfectly accepted to play a Cannibal Corpse alike riff. And nobody cares whether a simple Burzum riff returns over and over again in the tr00 underground scene. Newsflash: Panchrysia is doing their part outstanding! And yes, it?s trendy to say Satyr and co sold out! From ?Brave black world? to ?Checkpoint zero? the infected storm rages on. Only a few moments of rest pass by and the Khold-ish sounding  ?Angst? is one of my personal favourites on the disc. Also the opening track sounds like hell, there?s a riff that gives me pure nostalgia to times when ?A funeral moon? set new standards for black metal. Most of the songs are made of ravishing grimness and blast with a well known Dark Funeral touch. On the previous ?In obscure depths? Zahrim?s Immortal alike screams lacked a bit of aggression, this time they sound alright. It seems they are dipped in a crispy sausage of distortion, though no vocal effects are used, except for the last song. While most Belgian bands head direction for the CCR Studio, Panchrysia went like as usual to De Studio and they returned with a cold and winter chilling clear sound! This is how black metal should sound.

Panchrysia has just returned from a small tour with Malevolent Creation and Dying Fetus. Perhaps not the most suitable bill, but according the things I heard on ?Malicious parasite? they are surely worthy gaining international attention. Come on Moonfog?

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Other articles for Panchrysia:

Album review		Deathcult Salvation»	by Neithan 01 May, 2008
Festival		Arnhem Metal Meeting 2007»	by Kimberley 14 Feb, 2008
Album review		The Ultimate Crescendo Of Hell»	by Filip 24 Aug, 2006
News article		announce split release»	by Filip 25 Feb, 2006
Concert review		18/12/2004 Biebob Antwerp Belgium»	by Filip 20 Dec, 2004
Interview		Though "In Obscure Depths" can't be brought down»	by Neithan 31 Dec, 2002
Album review		In Obscure Depths»	by Neithan 26 Jun, 2002