ATTENTION ALL GENRES OF METAL BANDS: If you want to know how to do an intro properly, then look no further than Of Serpents and Vultures, the first of two tracks from Xaemora’s new release, Carnivores in Heaven: Chapter 1.

20 seconds. That’s all it takes to set the scene. No need for intro tracks that go on for about five fucking minutes, just 20 seconds of gentle feedback, soft guitar, the atmosphere is set and then BOOM, go fucking hard, go fucking melodic, or go the fuck home.​

I would’ve liked this EP… er… single… whatever the hell you want to call it… on that alone—the perfect middle finger to a market oversaturated with ‘epics’ that sound like cheap horror movie soundtracks—but the fact that Carnivores in Heaven: Chapter 1 has two brilliant tracks of Melodic/Blackened Death Metal—in the aforementioned Of Serpents and Vultures and From a Western Sky—is the kind of bonus you won’t look in the face.​

This duo of tracks is a masterclass in dynamic, controlled savagery. The Melodic/Blackened Death Metal tag is accurate, but the band operates with an intelligence that separates them from the pack. They hit hard and fast and slow and heavy precisely when the music demands it. There’s a constant, satisfying tension as the band shifts gears, proving they prioritize the overall structure of the song over maintaining one dimension of aggression.​

Crucially, the music is well played, but that proficiency never spills over into pointless technical showing off. Every blistering riff and every heavy groove serves a purpose. This focused execution is best demonstrated in the rhythm section, specifically the drumming. On From a Western Sky, where the song goes through numerous time changes and shifts in intensity, the drumming is nothing short of incredibly good. It anchors the chaos, providing the necessary dexterity and power to navigate the abrupt melodic turns without ever losing the track’s destructive momentum.

​I also need to highlight the use of the keyboards. They are present, atmospheric, and used with the kind of restraint that should be taught in a mandatory music school course. They enhance the darkness, never once descending into overbearing, saccharine symphonic fluff. They add the necessary melodic depth without ever compromising the visceral, blackened fury.​

Xaemora has delivered two tracks that are concise, devastating, and flawlessly executed. This is precisely how you make a statement.

Carnivores in Heaven: Chapter 1 is available from the Xaemora Bandcamp page.

CHOICE CUT: From a Western Sky

BLACK METAL ARCHIVES VERDICT: Xaemora’s Carnivores in Heaven: Chapter 1 is a blueprint for efficient, dynamic Melodic/Blackened Death Metal. Featuring the perfect 20-second intro and incredible, shifting drum work, these two tracks are executed with absolute fury and intelligence. Required listening for sonic efficiency.