Superior Rage – In Memoriam

Although the press kit frames the release as atmospheric, the opener 'Indecent Condition' wastes no time in setting the record straight. This is uncompromising black metal - cold, aggressive, and jagged at the edges. Keyboards are present, but they are firmly embedded beneath the riffs rather than drifting above them, amplifying the hostility instead of diluting it. There is nothing here of the hazy, introspective atmosphere the term is so often used to describe; the track is raw, confrontational, and relentlessly direct. With 'Asmodeus Bacchic', SUPERIOR RAGE initially doubles down on the record’s uncompromising stance. The riffs cut deeper, the vocals sound even more corroded, and the rhythm section drives forward with a sense of grim determination rather than ornamental excess. For a time, it feels like a pure exercise in hostile black metal minimalism. Then, without warning, the song fractures. The guitars pull back, the pace loosens, and the keyboards emerge - not as background texture, but as a chilling, central presence. In this moment, atmosphere ceases to be a label and becomes an active force, turning the track inward and exposing a colder, more unsettling dimension. It is a brief but powerful shift, one that lingers long after the song regains its footing, and one of the EP’s most revealing passages. This is where "In Memoriam" fully comes into focus. SUPERIOR RAGE do not rely on atmosphere as a constant backdrop or ornamental layer. Instead, they deploy it with discipline, allowing space and texture to emerge only when the music demands it. By avoiding excess, these elements retain their potency, cutting through the aggression rather than diluting it. The EP thrives on this balance, with the friction between relentless black metal hostility and controlled atmospheric restraint shaping its most compelling moments.

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This dynamic interplay continues throughout the remaining tracks. The core of the songwriting remains rooted in orthodox black metal riffing, yet the band demonstrates a keen understanding of tension and release. Moments of restraint are carefully placed, allowing the subsequent eruptions to hit with heightened intensity. The use of keys remains disciplined and purposeful, never overwhelming the guitars or drifting into excess. Instead, they hover in the background, adding an undercurrent of dread that subtly shapes the atmosphere without ever softening the EP’s fundamental hostility. The guitars slash through the mix with clarity and menace, the drums strike hard and without restraint, and the vocals remain harsh, ragged, and wholly committed. Nothing feels polished for the sake of polish. In Memoriam thrives on directness, favoring force and conviction over decoration or studio gloss. What impresses most is the sheer command Superior Rage displays throughout the EP. Five tracks, stripped of indulgence, yet brimming with intent. The band never drowns the listener in endless keyboards, nor does it rely solely on relentless blast-beat assaults. Every shift, every pause, every surge feels carefully measured.

This is Black Metal that knows how to breathe. It strikes with calculated ferocity, retreats to let tension fester, and returns with precision. Atmosphere is earned, not handed out as a garnish - haunting, uncompromising, and forged in the contrast between chaos and control.

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"In Memoriam" is a razor-sharp, meticulously crafted EP that channels atmosphere into tension rather than decoration. Superior Rage unleash raw, uncompromising Black Metal, where every pause, every shadowed moment, makes the onslaught that follows feel all the more devastating. Restraint becomes a weapon, and the result is both thrilling and unsettling.

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SCORE 9/10

REVIEWED BY SWAMPY