ALBUM REVIEW: Sijjin – Helljjin Combat

German Death Metal masters Sijjin are back with their second full length album. Out via Sepulchral Voice Records on April 25th.

Ambience starts out with a disquieting soundscape before the artillery begins to rain savagery upon us. First we hear grooving bass lines and guitar come to life before drums join. The tension and angular style of the riffing definitely hooks you from the beginning before thrashing into ferocious life. I adored the previous album and this one seems to be mixing the same elements with an even cleaner production that harkens back to the 80s with its brightness and drier guitars. This crispness allows you to appreciate the playing which is extremely tight and that clunky bass guitar sounds stunning, almost more akin to Overkill than a Death Metal band. It is clear to see that Sijjin are extremely proficient musicians with a very clear direction for the band. When the vocals join, their raspy evilness sits perfectly in the warping darkness of the instruments. I feel like Malte’s vocals really tie everything together, bringing incantations from the abyss which add a deathly extreme edge to that classic thrashy songwriting. Punching through the heavens with an iron fist of stoic riffing, malevolent snarls and punishing drum fills; Sijjin are back to open the gates and summon forth the ancient ones…

While I definitely find the riffs to be the most ensnaring element of Sijjin, their vocals, drumming and guitar solos are all absolutely superb. Clearly attention to detail and nuance is unwaveringly important at every stage of the songwriting, playing, recording and production. One can feel the unholy abhorrence penetrate their flesh when listening to such diabolical and brilliant music. It is so easy to put a lot of reverb on a down-tuned guitar and lazily bash out some limp “Death Metal”. Sijjin, however, return to the primal, glorious and spearing majesties of Morbid Angel, Necrovore, Possessed and Merciless with their slaughtering brand of late 80s death-thrashing armageddon. This attack is a potent, virile and unmerciful one. From the choices in melodies to the breaks in the speed, every dynamic is utilised to bring a vision of something grandiosely macabre to life. To great effect, I might add. Let the mummified entrancement continue…

There feels like a greater focus on the more Heavy and Thrash Metal angle while retaining the very much Death Metal execution. This really works for Sijjin and allows them to harness the powers of albums like “Powerslave” and “Hell Awaits” in the context of something that would be appropriate at a Sadistic Intent show (incidentally, the last time I saw Sijjin was supporting the LA maniacs). Certainly this is not a trendy, or people-pleasing variant of the morbid arts. Indeed this blackened flame is only visible to the real underground maniacs and would simply scorch the anaemic flesh of the weaker breed. The eastern mysticism will consume you as will the absolutely fantastic musicianship put forth by this trio of profoundly gifted musicians. All of the songs follow a similar pattern and run at a similar length; yet are delivered in such a way that is engaging and enjoyable rather than tiresome. Sijjin clearly understands what they are best at doing and what their intentions are and we can witness this fulfilling display clearly from start to end.

Fear not the tormentor! A proclamation of true Death Metal from the real worshippers of the morbid and evil. Sijjin’s occult, barbaric and razor-sharp second record is just as infallibly violent and piercing as I had hoped. A majestic follow-up to the first EP and LP, each holding so much value and proudly displaying the essence of what Death Metal should have never ceased to be – dangerous and evil. Fall victim to the horrific distortions as the five blades cleave you, “Helljjin Combat” is here with a furious vengeance!