Through the annuls of history of European Metal we have seen country domination of a given genre decade after decade, repeating itself like a bad stutter. The 1970's saw the UK produce a host of NWOBHM acts, hell bent on changing the world of Metal as we knew it. The 1980's produced the German Thrash explosion, while the 90's was Sweden's turn to give us the likes of Entombed, Carnage, Unleashed, Grave, Dismember and a whole host of Deathly brilliance. Austria however is notable in it's absence from this role call; more famed for Mozart than Metal. Belphegor appear hell-bent on changing this with their latest album "Pestapokalypse VI".

If you are the sort of music fan who only concerns themselves with music that you believe 'defines' genres rather than enjoy the music for appreciations sake, Belphegor are not for you. "Pestapokalypse VI" is more about evolution than revolution, and is as solid a slab of Death come Black Metal fusion as you could hope to find. Taking the development shown on the their previous offering, "Goatriech - Fleshcult", and taking it to a new level of complexity and extremity. In Helmuth Belphegor have a front man akin to Mortuus or early Ross Dolan, so old schoolers should find enough here to enjoy.

Many of the bands past transgressions into the world of cliché have been avoided I pleased to report. As who of us can forget the ever so Satanic naked nuns that adorned "Goatriech - Fleshcult" [LOL]? With Nuclear Blast, Belphegor have found a record label willing to afforded the band the time, and no doubt money, it takes to produce a record with a quality production, and with it correcting the major blight of the bands early releases. Ensuring the likes of "Angel Of Retribution" and "Pest Teufel Apokalypse" are as vicious as the fires of hell from whence they came. Belphegor do offer more than just simple straight ahead fury. With "Bluhtsturm Erotika" we are presented with a tempo change, a slower pace and enough time to catch your breath, before the album deals another punch to the solar plexus.

"Pestapokalypse VI" certainly won't disappoint, extreme in every aspect and brutal to the point of tortuous. For those familiar with Belphegor this is exactly what you have come to expect and for those yet to experience the band, prepare yourself for an onslaught of Satanic proportions.