Review: Abominator - The Fire Brethren

Band: Abominator
Album: The Fire Brethren
Genre: Blackened Death Metal
Country: Australia
Label: Hells Headbangers Records
Released: October 31, 2025

Introduction:

Australian Blackened Death legends come back from the dead with their sixth release...

The Fire Brethren

Track Listing:

1. The Templar’s Curse
2. Underworld Vociferations
3. Covens for Azmodeus
4. Progenitors of the Insurrection of Satan
5. Author of All Calamity
6. Desolation Epoch
7. The Fire Brethren
8. Sulphur from the Heavens

Abominator comes back after being buried in the grave for ten years with their strong comeback album.

"The Templar's Curse" begins with an eerie sound of distant church bells and eerily winds married with guitar volumes fading in and out sounding like a razor about to cut your head off, and it does. It unleashes with blazing guitar riffs and marching blast beats from the gate chanting about their hatred for Christianity, which we all like to listen to black metal for. Ready for more Hell? I thought you might, because with "Underworld Vociferations" , that's exactly what you're gonna get again with more relentless riffs and blast beats punching you over and over in your ears until you beg for mercy. It's not until "Covens for Azmodeus" we get some hypnotic guitar riffs to put you in a trance for their upcoming demonic, again and you guessed it blistering blast beats to knock your head off. "Progenitors of the Insurrection of Satan" is a 7 and a half minute charging song that hails Satan to the maximum with more blasts and killer riffs.

It is basically Abominator's common specialty on this album to destroy people with the unrelentless pounding of the drums. I do however like the guitar solos on this album. It reminds me of Morbid Angel or Incantation like guitar solos that are blistering and quick to the point that stand out to melt your ear drums. My favorite songs on here is "Author of All Calamity" , it is a slower paced song that still delivers the ferocity and a groovier drum pattern with some good fills and blast beats to compliment the song. Also, the last track "Sulphur from the Heavens" starts with an eerie sound that segues into about a 7 and a half minute mid paced to full on ferocity within a matter of seconds in the verse and back to mid pace along with a nice guitar solo.

My only nitpick about this album is that most songs are straight ahead blast beat only. Don't get me wrong I like a good blast beat to tear my head off when it is warranted, but not through the entire song. The reason why the two after mentioned songs are my favorite, is mainly because of the tempo changes and the killer guitar solos that don't make them boring. However, this is meat and potatoes blackened death metal to the core and they do it well.

I recommend this band for listeners who like older Morbid Angel, Incantation, older Deicide, and Vital Remains who adore the blackened death metal genre.

Conclusion:

Abominator absolutely came back with a strong album, and brought back the formula from Evil Proclaimed ten years ago. It's a safe way to come back in the scene with, and I am hoping that they come back with another album that has more tempo changes blended with solos that will shred the listener's ears off. I have been listening to this band for quite a long time since Subversives for Lucifer, and I know they are such an awesome band that is capable of nice tempo changes to keep the listener engaged with their music. I am happy to see what will happen next in Abominator's journey to see what they do next!

Rating: 7.5 of 10

Your thoughts on The Fire Brethren by Abominator

Or share your opinion and thoughts on our social media channels, or join the discussion on our Discord—where we talk about all things black metal. Don’t forget to follow our Facebook page, Black Metal Zine, for updates on our latest articles, and take a look at our Instagram @blackmetal.zine for concert photos and more!