Long-running Polish black metal practitioners Blaze Of Perdition return in 2024 with their sixth full-length, Upharsin, set for release on 19 April via Metal Blade Records. A step back from the somewhat unusual direction the band followed on their previous offering - 2020's The Harrowing Of Hearts - Upharsin takes on a dark and pessimistic tone reflected by its appropriately oppressive music.

Haunting and melancholic melodies rooted in traditional black metal meet unforgiving blast beats and solemn marches, while emotional yet feral vocals aim to bring a proper sense of rage and disgust.

"With Upharsin, we aimed to open the wounds of humanity as a collective", the band notes. "The album reflects on how humans tend to gravitate towards conflict and strife. How religions and politics as well as other aspects of our everyday life are tainted and driven by our lower instincts as we willingly refuse to learn from our own history, as we choose to ignore and neglect the shadow aspect of our psychic reality, which in turn takes us further and further in the everlasting cycle of violence. It's probably the most realistic concept we've taken on, with noticeably less spiritual leanings and a much more grounded approach."

Blaze Of Perdition just recently unveiled the opening track and first single from the album, "W Kwiecie Rozłamu", of which the band has next words to say: "We wanted to begin the album with something striking and punishing, hence why there is no intro to set the mood first. However, most of our songs rarely keep the same mood for the entire duration and this one is no different. It's probably the most varied composition on Upharsin and what starts with fury and flames, soon transcends into a somewhat sludgy, almost psychedelic abyss to shift once again into fiery blast-driven inferno. Lyrically, it talks about our struggle to keep up with the pace and temptations of our collective, destructive nature. To understand, accept and learn from it instead of suppressing it and allowing it to expand." Link