Battle Kommand is killing it this year with the psychedelic sludge of Zoroaster's debut full lengther, Spun In Darkness' atavistic deathsludge monster

Birthright, the progressive black metal of Avichi, and this ripping disc of hardcore-influenced black metal from Exalted that comes across like the

missing link between Norwegian frost and early Touch And Go 7" singles.

Gnarly, negatory black metal infested with the shredding Midwestern thrashcore? Once the blackened ambient intro performed by necro-droner Neuntoter der

Plage drifts into view, that's what comes blasting outta the speakers when former members of the cult Chicago thrashpunk outfit MK Ultra crawl out of the

void and start playing raw, primitive black metal inspired by the likes of Darkthrone, Venom, Vlad Tepes and Celtic Frost. MK Ultra weren't that well known

outside of the Chicago underground punk scene in the late 90's, with only a few releases under their belt on labels like Lengua Armada, but I always thought

that they were pretty ripping, and it was cool to see that some of these guys are still bringing the speed, albeit in a vastly more violent and blackened

form. We Are The Grim Throng is the first album from Exalted, and it's ten songs are a ferocious blackened attack, moving at fast thrashing tempos

and lots of sickening midtempo circle pit breakdowns complete with cowbell, grunty croaks a la Tom G. Warrior trading off against vicious shrieking

accusations, burly D-beat pounding, and best of all, an arsenal of anthemic melodic riffs and catchy as fuck hooks seared into the thrash via trebly

speedpicking...man, the combination of old school hardcore hooks and bestial blackthrash is unbeatable, it's like hearing Darkthrone mixed with The Necros

and Battalion Of Saints, blistering blackthrash fused to early 80's hardcore anthems, super catchy and fierce, with songs like "Tyranny Of The Bitch Queen"

and "Ride Of The Black Horde" illustrating Exalted's scorched earth visions of bombed out Chicago city streets, back alley bone shrines, and satanic viral

armageddon. Awesome!