Unlike its Nordic counterpart, German black metal, though significant in its own right, has played second fiddle as it relates to the number of high-quality, world-renowned black metal bands. This is a phenomenon that is not easily explained, especially considering the number of massively successful speed/thrash and power metal bands the country has produced over the years. Where they lack in the black, Germany has birthed more metal bands than any other country in Europe, and are second to only Finland when it comes to the number of metalheads per capita. Furthermore, there is no real distinctive sound to German black metal when compared to the scenes found in Greece, France, Sweden, and, of course, Norway. Sure, there are some really great bands who have done some rather killer stuff; bands such as Absurd, Ungod, Bethlehem, Darkened Nocturn Slaughtercult (who are half Polish), Dark Fortress, etc., but there are none that are exceptionally noteworthy on the same scale as bands like Mayhem, Darkthrone, Rotting Christ, Dissection, Marduk, and Emperor.

All this said, for those who are willing to dig, there is definitely gold waiting to be unearthed buried deep within those ancient Alps. This includes bands such as Endstille, Sarkrista, ColdWorld, Wigrid, Jarl, Wedard, Predictor, Sterbend, Dauþuz, Drudensang, and the reason we are gathered here today… Membaris. Hailing from the western and central German towns of Limburg/Hesse, Membaris got their start way back in ’99. It wasn’t until the 2004 release of their debut full-length album, Poetry Of Chaos, that the band really started to make waves outside their fatherland. Over the next sixteen years, the band released four more full-length albums (07’s Into Nevermore, 2010’s Grenzgänger, 2012’s Entartet, and 2020’s Misanthrosophie). Throughout this time, the band have kept their feet firmly rooted in black metal’s foundational second wave, but always with an eye to expand upon that noble firmament. Reverence is key, as is passion, and the seamless, unselfconscious combination of both has become a hallmark of the Membaris sound.

I can confidently report that Membaris have once again made every effort to stay true to the second wave with their latest album, Black Plasma Armor. Like its predecessor, Misanthrosophie, the guys have crafted a collection of songs that are both merciless and cosmic, dragging you to the depths of hell while simultaneously taking you on a voyage throughout the blackened void of the universe. Kicking things off with the title track, ‘Black Plasma Armor’, the band immediately showcase one of their best songs yet. It drips second wave with it’s homage to Rebel Extravaganza-era Satyricon dynamics, yet with a slight Dissection-like melodic edge. Vocally, this thing oozes a Burzum-esque despair that lends the track an incredibly surging, spiraling, anguished and melancholic tone. The following two tracks (‘Threshold Of A Dystopia’ and ‘Sigil II’) are an example of how this band can take the core dynamics of second wave and apply that to something completely transcendental. I liken these two tracks to Mayhem meets Bölzer… both are ferocious and grandiose at the same time.

The last half of the album follows in much the same pattern as mentioned above, with the remaining three songs relying on similar riffing patterns, which combine to serve as a truly unified work. Each of the three songs weaves its way through bludgeoning, propulsive second wave black metal with traces of the aforementioned Swedish melody. In the end, Black Plasma Armor vexes and swirls its way into your earholes with a metallic mephitis that is unapologetically crushing. Most impressively, Membaris have absolutely mastered the use of dynamics, with each breathlessly passionate song shifting and churning to a chaos that leaves the listener hanging upon a yearning/desperate hook or crest of beautiful annihilation; it’s almost as if each climax is not enough, that another is right over the brink. Sure, it might be very early into 2025, but Black Plasma Armor might just be the sleeper hit of the year. I highly recommend seeking this out when it drops on January 21st via W.T.C. Productions.