During the last decade, Portuguese Black Metal have engraved its
profane signet in the innermost underground nest on a scale extended far
beyond its regional borders. With the emergence of a cluster of bands
and the rampant support of key labels and individuals, the European most
southern plague have been a vibrating one, drawing an increasingly
magnified array of overall praise. Summoned from the abyssal
subterranean sweeps in the year of 2002 E.S., Irae is an assorted
oddity. Equivalently unmatched and disassociated with waves, musical
grips and overall chains of crowd communal, this diabolical ensemble
forged its very own path in satanic blood and beaming fire. Founded and
lead as a lonesome scourge, Irae is the dismal vision of Vulturius, the
striving force and emulation of a sole path of undeniable allegiance to
the ultimate cunning of infernal Black Metal.
A specter of the
cryptic Black Circle, Irae have assembled a vault of brimming
malevolence and utmost venom during its 15-year existence. Having tread
all the different breeds release-wise – be it in format or type – Irae
emerges in 2017 with what can be enigmatically described as the
paramount tome of its course. Enter Crimes Against Humanity, a vicious
assault in scornful nine parts that leads the listener on a tormenting
crossing throughout the multifarious ingredients of Irae’s wrathful
recipe. Summoned and scorched in the course of five years, this unholy
document explores the lawless aesthetics of hate, extermination of
feeble mankind and allegiance to the Adversary, a treacherous pathway
set to a battering of merciless Black Metal, evermore rooted in the
outbreaks of darkness and evil from the ancient gods of the 80s and 90s.
In
addition to the performance, a compelling element of greatness lies on
its very aural traits, as never did Irae sounded as piercing and mighty
as in Crimes Against Humanity. Utterly powerful, the mixing is clear and
dynamic without ever loosing character or sounding stale, projecting a
sense of vigor and energy that conspire in unison with the heinous
treats in ordeal. If lyrically it probes into the depths of nihilism,
Crimes Against Humanity is visually manifested by the drawing essence of
abhorrence, an artwork that supremely captures the very core of Irae,
with no holds barred, ambiguity or roundabout but the fiery terror of
the blazing abyss.
Proudly released by Altare Productions on limited
cassette, CD and vinyl, Crimes Against Humanity is Irae’s unequivocal
magnum opus. Intolerant, unhinged, extreme, behold a dose of Black Metal
in its most genuine form.
(Text by Mário Souto)