TERATUM - Ordnance of Spiritual Warfare

'Dead in the Marches' opens the EP with an unsettling blend of ambient sounds resembling swarming insects and distant church bells, immediately setting an ominous tone. Marching drums and melodic riffs soon emerge before aggressive, reverb-soaked vocals spit their way through the composition. The track maintains a fast and forceful pace, although some of the longer gaps between vocal passages slightly disrupt its momentum. Aside from that, the opener delivers everything it needs: raw power, aggression, and enough energy to ignite a proper mosh pit. 

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'Leviathan Rise' wastes no time on atmospheric introductions, launching straight into hard-hitting riffs and primal screams. The increased pace brings a greater sense of urgency, while the raw production amplifies the song's unrestrained anger. The vocals could sit slightly further forward in the mix, and a more prominent bass presence would add extra weight, but the combination of throaty black metal vocals and razor-sharp thrash instrumentation works remarkably well. Towards the end, atmospheric elements return, merging with heavy, suffocating melodies to give the track a suitably ominous conclusion.

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'Total Void' opens with an impressive drum passage before heavy instrumentation slowly begins to gather momentum, only to erupt into wild blast beats moments later. The real standout, however, is the vocal interplay, as different approaches intertwine throughout the track and create a compelling sense of controlled chaos. Despite its restless nature, the composition never completely loses its direction. 

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Closing the EP, 'Metropolis of Death' leans noticeably further into the thrash side of TERATUM's sound. Mean, distorted riffs, prominent bass lines, and heavy yet melodic drumming drive the composition, while the vocals are arguably at their most sinister here. Around the middle, the track becomes slightly long-winded, although creative ideas and melodic passages keep it from losing its appeal. Rasping screams and faint whispers eventually carry the song into a haunting fade-out, providing a fitting end to Ordnance of Spiritual Warfare.

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With "Ordnance of Spiritual Warfare", TERATUM delivers a fierce and promising first statement that successfully bridges raw black metal darkness with razor-sharp thrash aggression. Sinister vocals, strong drumming, and an unmistakably old-school atmosphere give the EP plenty of character, even if the production and occasional long-winded passages leave some room for refinement. A convincing release that makes it exciting to see where TERATUM will take their sound next.

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SCORE 7.5/10

REVIEWED BY SWAMPY