Signs of the Evil - Calling the Ancient Legions Under the Red Moon

Signs of the Evil is a black metal band with origins who formed in 2002 and from Peru but are now apparently based in Portland, Oregon.  The band’s latest album, “Calling the Ancient Legions Under the Red Moon,” is their second full-length album; they have also released two demos and two splits.

Oregon isn’t the first place that comes to my mind when I think of black metal but maybe it” needs to be because Signs of the Evil have crafted a fantastically abrasive album in “Calling the Ancient Legions Under the Red Moon.”  The name of the band, album, and even the artwork is straight up raw, unfiltered black metal with the promise of a blasphemous good time built upon music written to invoke ancient rites and beings.  The album delivers on this promise and more.

As I said, this is some raw stuff.  It isn’t so raw that it can’t be enjoyed—the sound isn’t muted or foggy but instead gritty with a real DIY atmosphere and production job.  For me, the way this album sounds is perfect for the band’s uncompromising vision of what it means to truly play underground black metal.  

The album consists of 12 songs across a runtime of just over 45 minutes.  Consisting of an intro and outro, the meat of the album are 10 songs that all devastate.  I’ve said this many times before and will always say it because I believe it to be true, but there is a certain charm of bands knowing exactly who they are and what they want to play.  Signs of the Evil is black metal.  Period.   I like that purity—this album feels honest and powerful, made by people who really wanted to play this music. 

The album begins with “Invocato Infernal Reges,” and it possesses clean spoken vocals and unnerving bell tones.  It’s quite creepy and may have summoned a demon in my house but it sets up the album well. 

It slides into the first full song, “b.”  With a name like that, I was expecting a full-frontal assault of blackened destruction.  And that’s exactly what I got.  The bass is great—I really like how well the bass stands out on this song (and the album in general).  It has a solid, low end that pairs well with the guitar, to add another label of heaviness.    The vocals are pure violence and the screams are eviscerating—these are exactly the kind of vocals I like in black metal.  

The band doesn’t have any issues tackling black metal’s classic focus on unrelenting rhythms and speed, but they also have a good handle on how to take things slow.  Slow doesn’t mean light—it means evil taking its time to seep into your soul.   “Ritual Fragellationi,” begins its rotten life as a slow dirge, with harrowing screams and suffocating riffs. Around the 2:20 mark, the tempo kicks up a notch and brings with it some galloping rhythms—-one of the best moments on the album!  The band doubles down on its tempo and it increases again with more intricate riffs and pounding drums.  The ending sees them pulling back again on the tempo, offering a ghastly end to this frightening song. 

A little more than halfway through the album and I get hit with the banger that is “Black Goddess of Destruction.”  It is good the album keeps me interested so deep into it and even better that this song is so searing.  This one has a lot of kick ass grooves, and the bass absolutely crushes around them.  The drums are on point too, pushing the band every forward through this dark forest of death.  Just before the halfway mark, the riffs turn surprisingly catchy, backed by equally catchy drums.  This is a very well-written passage that strips the band back to the basics of their sound. Another surprise arrives at the 4:30 mark:  a clean passage that still sounds ancient and mysterious.  Great job, guys.

“Nega Noche,” is the last full song; it's a three-minute burner that doesn’t let up.  This song grasps the full power of the band and genre, an evocative example of just how furious black metal can be.  I really like the second half with its mid-tempo groove.  The double bass rumbles underneath, like volcanic activity building up underground before it bursts. 

Signs of the Evil’s “Calling the Ancient Legions Under the Red Moon,” is an impressive black metal album because it isn’t afraid to bring out the darker elements of the style.  Black metal has grown so much over the years, sometimes stretching too far out but if you want something that brings it back down with full front assault, check this album out. 

Rating:  Great