Featuring members of Necrophobic and Cryptosis, this international act has barely begun to spin its wheels, but based on this, their debut EP, In Aphelion are going to be a name to remember. Playing a melodic form of black metal that focuses on the guitarplay, it's not a million miles away from Necrophobic, sure. Yet there's a touch of tech-thrash detectable on some of the riffing and a slightly greater Bathory vibe to the more grandiose leads, especially on opener Draugr, that distinguishes it a little. At nearly eight minutes' length that piece has more than enough metallic meat on the bone to convince, and the band show themselves to be skilled songwriters by avoiding repeating themselves, the following title track having more of a black/thrash vibe, groovier and more headbangable.

That's followed by Wrath of a False God, which pulls back on the blackened metal towards a more pagan metal-tinged thrash, again with plenty of melodic lead guitar which takes a turn for the atmospheric and is highly effective. After that, finishing the EP with a blistering cover of Kreator's Pleasure to Kill works very well indeed, thematically fitting and leaving you wanting more. The band's debut full-length is out Christmas Day this year, so if the family gathering leaves you cold at least there'll be black metal goodness to warm that scaly heart! An impressive first assault from this Swedish/Dutch project.