FERAL FORMS – Through Demonic Spell

Italy has delivered a memorable run of releases in 2024. Chief among them is Through Demonic Spell, the full-length debut from Friulian act Feral Forms, released by Everlasting Spew, a label known for spotting talent.

 

Some may be hearing the band’s name for the first time, given their recent formation. Still, their name has circulated in the Italian underground for a year. It’s hard to go unnoticed when your debut is titled Premalignant, delivering sounds true to war metal—a genre defined by pure brutality. But what the EP hinted at went far beyond the basics. Traditional war metal demands relentlessly fast drums, lightning-speed riffs, and guttural vocals pushed to the extreme. Feral Forms deliver all of that here. However, they balance it with strong songwriting and intricately woven passages reminiscent of the technicality and intensity of death metal bands like Angelcorpse. This creates depth beyond sheer chaos.

 

The Trieste-based band pursues a less alienating sound. Compared to their previous relentless style, their signature unrestrained violence is now carefully distributed. Explosive, lightning-fast strikes (Angelcide) contrast with longer tracks (Monastery Raid, Titanomachia, Hellish Nuke), where brief spectral melodies temper the ferocity. These shifts give the album a different flavor: it remains infernal and suffocating, but now features memorable hooks that make the experience more engaging and layered.

 

In short, this album delivers 29 intense minutes. Feral Forms know their path and strengths. Through Demonic Spell lays the foundation for them to soar within their circle. With this release, they’ve already reached impressive heights.