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INVERTED CROSS
Eternal Flames Of Hell

Helldprod (2024)
Rating: 6.5/10

Dressed up like some blackened death metal cauldron, Eternal Flames Of Hell is the debut full-length sizzler from rusty and blasphemous Barcelona, Spain-based speedsters Inverted Cross, one of a batch of bands to use this unholy moniker.

Adorned in big sunglasses – even on wintry nights – and stinking of leather, the combo of Guille Hungover (vocals and bass), Philip Graves (guitar and vocals), Alis Demonized (guitar) and Chris Carrest (drums) spout the usual tyrannical tirades under the cloak of the customary satanic guise with ‘Attack With Hellfire’, ‘Into The Crypt Of The Necromancer’, ‘Black Leather Hordes’ and ‘Eternal Flames Of Hell’ being some of the archetypal track titles doused in alcoholic rage.

Thirty minutes zip by and result in not too severe whiplash, although the whelp marks may last a while. ‘March Of The Fallen’ is a brief introductory church organ before the snappy onslaught of ‘Attack With Hellfire’, a frenzied snipe featuring a nice streak of melody within the rabid black thrash horror.

The theme here is constant, quick fire barrages that are actually more serious in nature than they should be. A stench of the South American death-thrash underground permeates the air through those raw and unapologetic torrents, led by the chopping rants of Guille Hungover.

There’s some fiery stuff on offer here, but nothing we’ve not heard before. ‘Under An Evil Presence’ streaks like smouldering stabs of forked lightning, ‘Invoke The Goat’ is two and a half minutes of scorching, direct black hyper thrash, while ‘Suffer To Live’ follows suit, as does ‘Black Leather Hordes’. It’s scurrying speed metal that just can’t help but frantically raid the ears.

‘Trapped Underground’ starts with a much slower pace suggesting the band is going to throw in a welcoming curveball, but alas no, there’s that zany, frenetic and wickedly structured spike thrash again before the title track serves up some working, thorny leads among the webs of malice.

Strangely, any track over three minutes feels a bit too long here, such is the whipping nature of this flame grilled beast, but if you like the frenetic pace of diabolical speed metal then strap in to this hellfest.

Neil Arnold

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