Have you ever tried singing along to a death metal CD? You know, the kind where the singer sounds like he's either possessed, or his rasping gasps sound like he's dying a horrible death? Anytime I take the mock stage in my bedroom and don my faux-metal persona, all I end up with is a really bad coughing fit and a sore throat. On that point, how do these guys belt out song after song and still retain some semblance of a voice? I digress, because fortunately some people are able to make these foul sounds and have them come to life with thudding alacrity, laying a serious reality check on your senses. Sweden's In Aeternum returns with hellfire on its coattails as the band's second release for Necropolis Records unearths an even more refined mixture of black and death metal, along with elements of stalwart thrash.

The Pestilent Plague quickly establishes its foundation in things extreme with an ungodly amount of unrelenting speed. There aren't any crunch-riff-heavy breakdowns here -- only a glaring abuse of excessive speed that'll exhaust you after eight tracks. Quite frankly, it's a bit daunting to contemplate how these guys are able to keep it all together song after song! Besides the aforementioned aping of the Grim Reaper's singing (or is that gasping?) voice, there's plenty of double bass drum blasting, as well as scorching guitar lines that race from note to note in some sort of a panicked state. As vocalist David Larsson roars out "Demon...possession!" repetitively on the suitably titled "Demon Possession," you may want to grab on to something religious to make you feel a bit more secure -- it's really that devilish sounding. The closing number, "Revelation of Hell," strikes you down with an explosion of punishing beats and an overly aggressive stance that gives any well-intentioned black metal fan a run for his money -- and a feeling of satisfaction after enduring the tune's insipid wrath. Don't kid yourself: there's absolutely nothing light-hearted or sympathetic here.

In fact, I don't want these guys at my house. I don't want them to meet my moms or pops and I absolutely, certainly don't want them getting near my girl. But In Aeternum has indeed found a warm place in my heart, becoming good pals with those not-so-pleasant human feelings of hate and vengeance. So instead of ransacking the local high school or post office the next time you get an trigger finger, try The Pestilent Plague on for size and funnel some of those pent-up feelings of frustration and general pissed-offed-ness through your stereo at full blast. It's like a prescription drug for your emotions, with the only side effect (possibly) being a throbbing, post-head-banging headache!