Let’s be brutally honest: To see a band make a statement as utterly uncompromising as “Black Metal in honor of the Devil” is about the closest I, or any right-thinking inhabitant of the Black Metal Archives, will ever get to a “You had me at hello” moment. It’s not just a mission statement; it’s an immediate, defiant commitment to the core tenets of this dark art. But the true, cynical test is whether the music can back up that blasphemous boast. And the fact that Malakhim backs up their claim on their formidable second full-length album, And In Our Hearts the Devil Sings, only sweetens the infernal deal.

The moment the needle drops—or, fine, the digital signal fires—on this record, the atmosphere is immediate and crushing. The Swedish outfit’s particular brand of Melodic Black Metal is not some gentle, atmospheric wander through frosty forests; it is as vicious and relentless as a pack of rabid, starving dogs gnawing with focused, hateful intent at your legs, and frankly, at other, far more sensitive, areas. This is not passive listening; this is a sonic attack that demands your blood and your attention.

​Yet, despite that relentless ferocity, the music remains majestic, imposing, and undeniably compelling enough to have you rooted, paralyzed in your seat, as wave after wave of chilling, melodic awe floods through your speakers and, more importantly, through your soul. Yeah. That fucking good.

Malakhim operates at a blistering, near-constant velocity. The drumming is a masterpiece of precision and power, a constant barrage of blast beats and furious double bass work that propels the music forward like a runaway freight train derailed straight into the infernal depths. This is the rhythmic engine of true chaos.​

But the sheer speed is merely the vehicle for the real heart of the darkness: the riffing. The guitars are a swirling, chaotic vortex of tremolo picking, delivered with a melodic sensibility that keeps the songs memorable while never compromising their inherent savagery. This is where the band truly stakes its claim in the elite tier of modern Melodic Black Metal. They manage the impossible task of injecting complexity and structure without sacrificing the raw, hateful energy that defines the genre. The riffs are sharp, icy, and delivered with an intent that recalls the very best of the second wave, but with a production quality that ensures every nuance of the demonic songwriting is heard.​

The vocals on And In Our Hearts the Devil Sings are perfectly suited to the majesty and the murder of the music. They are a raw, desperate rasp—a sound that evokes suffering, hatred, and the chilling reverence for darkness. The delivery is furious, yet clearly articulated enough to convey the essential, blasphemous themes running through the album. This isn’t just screaming; this is the sound of a tormented soul shouting its defiance into the void, a testament to the Devil they so proudly honour.​

The melodic element is the sinister glue that holds this maelstrom together. Unlike some of their peers who use “melodic” as an excuse for softening the edges, Malakhim utilizes melody as an injection of cold, epic grandeur. The guitar leads soar above the chaos, not to soothe, but to emphasize the sheer, frightening scale of the conflict. The melodies feel inherent to the darkness, like ancient hymns dedicated to the destruction of the spirit. They lend the album a monumental, sweeping scope that ensures the aggressive tracks never devolve into monotonous noise.

​Listen to tracks like Into Darkness We Depart or the title track; they demonstrate a compositional maturity that separates Malakhim from the legions of imitators. There is a relentless layering of sound, a carefully constructed atmosphere of dread and fury that manages to be simultaneously overwhelming and perfectly structured. It is a honed, blasphemous prayer turned into a terrifying weapon of mass destruction. The band is not just playing fast; they are crafting sonic manifestos.​

The production here is exactly what this style of Black Metal demands. It is full, aggressive, and powerful, providing the necessary weight to the rhythm section while keeping the brilliance of the guitars front and centre. It gives the music the required crushing presence without sacrificing the rawness that keeps it firmly planted in the sacred black arts.​

Ultimately, And In Our Hearts the Devil Sings is a masterful piece of modern Black Metal. It is a record that not only lives up to its uncompromising initial declaration but uses that conviction to push the boundaries of what aggressive, melodic Black Metal can achieve. It’s vicious, intelligent, and absolutely essential. This is a focused worship of the dark powers that demands your complete, unreserved submission. They claim to sing for the Devil, and by the sound of this record, the Devil must be thoroughly pleased.

And In Our Hearts the Devil Sings is available via the Malakhim Bandcamp page and the bands website.

CHOICE CUT: The Firmament Submits

BLACK METAL ARCHIVES VERDICT: Malakhim’s And In Our Hearts the Devil Sings is a masterful, savage piece of modern Black Metal. It is vicious, relentless, and driven by blistering velocity and superb melodic precision. This album is a dark, uncompromising mission statement executed with flawless, infernal conviction. A testament to the Devil, and mandatory listening.