The DevilsHorns

When you think of black metal, an American, all-female band is one of the things that is unlikely to be at the forefront of your thoughts. Sev Lezu are therefore here to change your sexist, probably misogynistic, thoughts. Blood Conscript is the trio’s debut album, and it is damn good listen!

Clocking in at under 22 minutes long, Blood Conscript tips it’s raw, grinding feet into EP territory, especially as 2 of the 7 tracks on offer are instrumental. The first of these is the foreboding intro – a short slice of eeriness that dares the listener to continue. Immediately, the excellent, ‘The Stillborn’ begins with furious blastbeats from the excellent Sasha Stroud, whose righteous aggressive drumming is dominant throughout, as are her superb vocals. Melissa Moore ably backs things up with a magnificent murky guitar tone and superb riffs. Holding the track together is FW on bass. The band are tight, and the track (and album) benefits.

fist-pump as the rampant riff develops. A small solo and a flash of the horns – this is a good song.

Most of the songs are full of attacking speed, but for over a third of its run-time ‘Revenge’ boasts a slow, minute long intro before utter chaos reigns. Again, superb stuff from this trio – all of whom have a rich back catalogue in other bands. Experience does count!

The downsides? Without the instrumentals, this is an EP. The opening track does welcome you into the album well, but ‘The Ritual of Bone and Blade’ is essentially just an eerie soundscape that adds little to the carnage around it. That said, it does welcome in the closer track, ‘Man’s Evil Gift’, which gallops along in a black metal manner akin to Iron Maiden. Waahey!!

Blood Conscript is an album that impresses immediately. The musicianship and respect given to the genre is top-class and Sev Lezu are worthy of 22 minutes of your day.

Give them a listen, Sev Lezu have earned multiple listens from myself.

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