A Slovakian trio comprising of local scene veterans, Ceremony of Silence have been in existence since 2015 with just two full lengths to their name. Hálios is the second of these, released last July by the good folk at Willowtip and it's definitely worth catching up on should it have escaped your ears - the sort of crunchy, heavy blackened death metal that the likes of Behemoth wish they could still produce, with a hefty side dosage of dissonance that brings the likes of Ulcerate to mind. So dementedly heavy is this, with such a dose of pressing atmosphere, that it can be overwhelming on initial listens, yet once given a little time to sink in it's genuinely difficult to fathom how this escaped wider notice.

The band are expert in writing songs that twist and turn whilst holding you gripped, often relying on dissonant high-pitched melodies (Primaeval Sacrifice, for example) or downright sledgehammer grooves to punish your neck muscles (Serpent Slayer). There's barely a dip in energy or intensity throughout; with militaristic, pounding drumming and vocals (from live member Neplex who joined for this album) a dry growl, the shuddering guitar riffage bringing the works of later Gorguts to mind, this is bliss itself for the death metal connoisseur who appreciates aural violence for its own sake. There are the usual genre touchstones like guitar solos (usually brief flashes, sparks in the night sky) and frequent tempo shifts such as the way Moon Vessel reduces the tempo to a grandiose stomp initially before speeding up and allowing the chaos to grow, yet the central rumbling racket is worthy enough of focus on its own, having more than sufficient atmospheric impact to entice black metal fans into its dark world.

Eternal Return is a particularly effective interlude piece that leans into the black metal aspect to the band's sound, a pitch-dark threat of intent with Deathspell Omega-esque hostility, lessening the guitar riffs to more textural territory as the rushing effects and snarled vocals address you. It leads wonderfully to the crashing assault of Light Runs Through Light, the dissonant and almost avant-garde off-kilter rhythmic pounding as the guitars run up and down your spine. Ceremony of Silence marry the black and death metal aspects of their sound especially well, the suitably-titled Perennial Incantation living up to its name as a crushing, classic-sounding death metal workout that reaches beyond mere flesh with a notably spiritual aspect to the melodies and atmosphere born from the music, particularly in the second half of the track as the tempo slows a little.

And the masterminds, guitarist/bassist Viliam Pilarčík and drummer Matúš S. Ďurčík, are both clearly more than talented musicians, creating their unholy din with passion and drive. King in the Mountain alone is good enough to make this an obvious recommendation, dissonant and progressive yet with the muscular weight and inhuman scowl of an Immolation before turning near-ambient with the return of textural playing, reminiscent of Meshuggah's most sinister moments. The album as a whole sounds terrific thanks to a Colin Marston mastering job, hefty yet not unclear. All in all this is a remarkable album and highly recommended.