Cryfemal - Increibles Tormentos (2009)

The bar for what a single black metal musician can accomplish these days in consistently being raised, some of the very best albums released in this genre being solo projects. With Increibles Tormentos, the 5th full-length from Spain's Cryfemal, Ebola continues to give credence to this fact. This is a visceral, hostile album of wrist cutting chaos which bears the sonic equivalent of a full fledge Norse or Swedish black metal band. Increibles Tormentos is grim, but it is not subtle, preferring to clout you over the head with this fact. To make matters worse (or better, in this case), Ebola successfully contributes synthesizers to the material to give it a larger, epic, sweeping feeling.

"Delirio Funerario" is a volcanic blast of programmed blasting, huge riffs and the sinking feeling that you are about to be dragged deep into the bowels of Hell, one track at a time. The second riff is akin to a wall of tormented souls calling forth their sorrows of life. "Orgasmos de Molestación" is disgusting and forceful, alone trumping anything on the most recent 1349 album. Brutal, vibrant and yet hopeless. "Pudrición de Enemigos" creates another monolithic riff which cannot be denied, it takes only 4-5 chords for this guy to convince you he's 'got it', and then a swirling descent into carnal chaos. There are no 'breathers' on this album, it's just one ass kicking after another, with the exception of a few brief, doomier chord segments. "Horrible and Violenta" and "Negro Metal" are other great examples of the pearly-gate-shattering delivery.

All this is well enough, but the stark, hostile mix of Increibles Tormentos also deserves credit for the album's unrelenting quality. Brash and noisy, but swelling with diabolical impurity, the album is both razor sharp and atmospheric. Synths and choir-like samples arrive at precise moments to channel the grandiose of the Abyss. Cryfemal may not be the most original black metal band, but it delivers an experience you will not want your black little hearts to miss out on. The best I've heard yet from the Spanish act.

Verdict: Win [8.5/10]

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