After “Last Of A Kind”, which was hailed by the press and the fans, PANZERCHRIST is back today with a new album. Enter “Maleficium Part I”, a set of material where the band made a conscious decision to steer the Panzerchrist sound towards a more death metal direction. When the group coincidentally bumped into Ove Lungskov (also of Rotten Ocean), they asked him to try out for the drummer position. Ove, a big fan of Panzerchrist’s previous work, initially thought they were joking, but it quickly became clear that he was the perfect fit. His playing style not only matched the band’s previous material but also aligned perfectly with their future vision. With Ove on board, the band leaned even further into death metal, amplifying the speed and brutality with fast blast beats and thunderous double kicks.
“Michael is the main songwriter”, guitarist Frederik O’Carroll says, about how the new members inject ideas in the Panzerchrist’s established sound on the new album. “That being said, especially Oves drumming, as well as Sonja’s lyrics, are essential parts of the sound of this incarnation of Panzerchrist. On the music side of things, we wanted to get back to a more double bass-driven sound. Ove has a fast, but also an incredibly heavy style of drumming which added an extra layer of heaviness in the studio”, he concludes.
“Maleficium Part I” is out today on LP (black vinyl, limited to 300 copies), CD and digital via Emanzipation Productions. Orders are available via this link.
With Ove on board, drums and vocals were recorded at Tue Madsen’s Antfarm Studios in early 2024, with Madsen also handling the mixing and mastering of the new album. “Maleficium Part I”, has a fast yet heavy approach, featuring atmospheric parts that perfectly complement Sonja’s medieval tales of witches, witchcraft, and all things evil. The record delves even deeper into esoteric themes, further developing the elements explored in their last release. The result is seven tracks that balance both blistering speed and slower, driving efforts with haunting soundscapes and melody, all crafted with Ove’s playing style in mind. The outcome is “Maleficium”, a blend of Panzerchrist’s signature intensity and a renewed focus on melody and atmosphere and the cohesive sound that is the mark of the Tue Madsen production.
“I feel that “Maleficium Pt. 1” sort of connects the dots between the style of previous releases, but it also develops the atmosphere of our previous album”, Frederik offers. “Especially the lyrics add an extra dimension to the feel of the album”.
Vocalist Sonja also elaborates on this full-circle theory. Not only for part one of the “Maleficium” two-part concept but for the whole work. “From “Last Of A Kind”, “Maleficium” is a return to a faster, more intense death metal sound with both old school and modern influences”, she says.
“A deeper viciousness in both the sound and lyrics ties knots to earlier Panzerchrist releases and both new and dedicated fans will recognize Michael Enevoldsens distinct style of composing that he has taken to a new level on this album. “Maleficium” is a manifestation of the musical depth and diversity Panzerchrist is: fast and furious old school death metal with layers of icy black metal riffs and dark doomy passages”.
Lineup:
Michael Enevoldsen – bass, keyboards
Frederik O’Carroll – guitars
Sonja Rosenlund Ahl – vocals
Danny Bo – guitars
Ove Lungskov – drums
Webshop:
https://bit.ly/pzc-bnd
Digital:
https://bfan.link/maleficium-pt-1
Web:
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“Maleficium Part I” tracklist:
1. Blood Leeches
2. Weak Is The Flesh
3. Mist On The Moat
4. Confessions
5. Sister Death
6. Curse Of Desire
7. Savage Daughter
8. Ritual
