Emerging from the shadows of the London underground, Helzver's debut album 'Kvlt Is Still Alive' is less an introduction, think of it as a declaration of war! Crafted by Georgi Georgiev, this unholy slab of filthy black metal ignites a furnace of pure primal aggression, sparking a fierce atmosphere with suffocating defiance. Released via Nocturnal Howl Records, Georgiev channels the spirit of the second-wave titans, early Bathory, Darkthrone but in the vocals I hear a old Dimmu Borgir/Arch Enemy fueled nightmare. The result is a record that is rooted in tradition yet forward facing, blazing with a venom uniquely its own.

Opening salvo 'Black Winds Rise' really wastes no time in setting the tone, dare I say a thrash inspired onslaught of riffs and blood curdling screams, underpinned by some Behemoth styled drumming (think Demigod era) that hit like collapsing cathedrals. The vocal delivery in songs like 'Kvlt Is Still Alive' surge like a man possessed, filled with torment, poetic nihilism and apocalyptic grandeur. I feel as the album progresses, the thrash elements I first heard disappear and more and more black metal despair seeps in. 'Feed My Demons' tempers its ferocity with a slow brooding intro before hitting you with awesome, brutal hammer type guitar licks.

'Burn The Virgin' plunges the listener into ceremonial darkness around the third minute mark with some evil guitar twin riffs before launching into a quick haunting solo. 'In Nomine Carnis' slows the tempo again to a hypnotic Opeth/Bethlehem like crawl, laced with menace and creeping doom.

Have a listen to the album below while you read ->



Each song really builds upon the last while the production allows for the songs to create a cohesively grim architecture. One of the most impressive songs is 'Batak', reminds me of old Satyricon/Dimmu Borgir in it's sonic mix but descends into a melodic guitar section towards the end of the song which works so well. The standout song for me is 'Mother Of Scars', one of the most evil intro riffs I've heard in a long time. The way it swirls into oblivion grips you each time you hear it. Halfway through the song you can feel the balancing fury with a chilling, almost orchestral weight. The distorted cleans towards the end are really fitting before we bleakly crescendo into a storm of anguished howls and icy riffs.

The album closes with 'The King We Dare Not Name' which is honestly one of the more straight forward tracks saved by the pretty nifty melodic guitar riffs in the Arch Enemy vein. I do wish 'Mother Of Scars' ended the album on a darker note as this song gives a feeling of defiance/hope. In a landscape where black metal too often lapses into parody or posturing, 'Kvlt Is Still Alive' is a breath of scorched air. There's absolutely no gloss here, no compromise - only fire, despair staring into darkness, and the resolute voice of an artist who has fully embraced the void abyss. Helzver has not just entered the black metal graveyard - he's carved his name into its bones. For fans of the true underground, this album is not just a must-listen - it’s a blood pact. Kvlt forever!

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