A live album is usually a special occasion, often marking a milestone. This is what Thulcandra initially set out to do, by releasing this live album, which has been recorded in Germany in 2011 and which features the original Thulcandra lineup, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the band. This ultimately did not end up happening because of covid. Now that the pandemic is practically over, the four-piece feel ready to unleash this live record to the world which will be made available exclusively through the Napalm Records webstore, and at any upcoming Thulcandra show, which sounds exactly like what a blackened death metal band would do for a new release.
The album starts with an intro track which is just under two minutes long, but it is during ‘Night Eternal’ where Thulcandra showcase their technicality. Blast beats and thunderous riffs drags the listener and places them right in the centre of the moshpit. The sound mix is spot on. Throughout the record, everything sounds this powerful.
The track that follows is the only single released from this album as of now. ‘Fallen Angel’s Dominion’ is short, but straight to the point, and is also played with the same ferocity and brutality. This song features one of the best vocal performances of these eight tracks.
The further the listener gets into the album, the more melodic the tracks become, and with ‘In Blood And Fire,’ the longest song played, it is one of the more guitar driven songs. The guitars really shine on this. There are a few different passages which are extremely technical for any musician to execute, and because of this, the guitars really shine through with the haunting melodies and rhythmic precision.
‘Aeon Of Darkness,’ the track that follows, is probably the best live song here. It has the catchiest chorus, but still maintains the sheer intensity this band feeds their audience. The bridge is extremely eerie as they deliver a classic black metal atmospheric feel before returning to the chorus. Making this a song that could easily be used for an introduction to blackened death metal, and for any metal live show.
After a last song which is also beyond the six-minute mark, but is also easily the most repetitive track, the live album ends with a short outro tape, a piece of piano music as the barely audible crowd cheers. Upon listening to the live album, it does not feel like a concert as many of the transitions and spoken parts are left out. This caused me a tiny bit of confusion, as these sorts of things on live albums do not make them seem very cohesive.
To conclude, I am sure fans of Thulcandra will love this live record as all eight of these tracks are band classics, and for a live album, they work, and the band are capable of performing them at an insanely technical level, but where this album lacks is the concert feeling despite the band sounding fantastic. Blackened death metal is not for everyone, but with this record, Thulcandra have proven that with this limited-edition release, they do have a hungry, loyal crowd. One which will love every second of this live album.
Thulcandra: Live Demise – Out 6 December 2024 (Napalm Records)
– Fallen Angel’s Dominion (Official Live Video) | Napalm Records
