Kudos to Metal Blade for signing this awesome duo to a label that can get them the exposure they need. Black metal at its purest and most unrefined, SONIC REIGN have been creating sonic chaos since 1997. Releasing two demos before the first release of “Raw Dark Pure”, Benjamin Borucki and Sebastian Schnider have been to the MOONFOG / DARKTHRONE / MAYHEM school, and graduated to levels that most 90’s black metal mongers could only hope to achieve.

SONIC REIGN compose their brand of cold, technical metal in a very dark and unrelenting way. Speedy (but not just) with enough tempo changes to keep the listener from getting bored. The guitar here has the tuning and tone of many Nordic bands, closely resembling SATYRICON in their early days, or even traces of IMMORTAL. There are sparse solos, but all of them occur at just the right places in the songs, and add to that dark, unfeeling atmosphere. Melody is non-existent here, but don’t let that deter you, there is a grip this disc gets on you, that just won’t let go. Sebastian’s drums are of the double-bass variety, but they don’t overpower the riffing or become annoying, they just come at you with guns blazing. Check out track 6, “Tyrant Blessed” for a good example of this.

These guys aren't smothering, but prepare a surgical strike with demonstrated capability to suck in the listener. Benjamin’s string bending and soloing in “Reminiscence of Imperial Wrath” demonstrates that this dude can really play, but doesn’t show off, and is stingy with his skills. This disc kept me wanting more; hopefully signing to a larger label won’t change SONIC REIGN's approach at all.

- Murtaugh

OFFICIAL SITE: www.sonicreign.de

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