It can be easy to dismiss metal as a young person’s game since styles are constantly evolving, and the way the genre looks now is so much different than it was even a decade ago. So, it might seem like the fresh blood is what’s dictating the game. Of course, we know better than that, and veteran bands still are putting out great work that’s dynamic and challenging well into their careers.

You can add long-running black metal power Demoncy to that list of well-traveled bands that still pack devastating power and tenacity, which is spattered all over their killer fifth record “Black Star Gnosis.” Helmed from the start by vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Ixithra (VJS handles guitars and drums), the band has weaved through black metal’s formative years when they emerged in 1989, and over four other records (their last was 2012’s “Enthroned Is the Night”), they have established themselves as one of the most storied movers of the sub-genre who have survived to this day with as much chaos and devastation as anyone else playing this style.

“Across the Setian Planes” is an instrumental opener, and an eerie one at that as a beast lurks and snarls, and a hellish atmosphere swells and hammers into “Ipsissimus of Shadows” that unloads and twists violently. Hissing and crushing add ample heat, and suddenly everything is smoldering, smoke pouring from every crevice, the dizzying assault burying hopes in ash. The title track is disorienting and mashing, vile howls pounding away, gnawing at muscle and bone. The hideous force increases, strangling with terror and nastiness, a bloody ferocity blasting its way through the earth. “Cosmic Curse Invocation” mauls right away, demonic howls scraping at your psyche, stomping and turning everything to muck. The playing turns devious and evil, the vocals smearing poisonous soot, thrashing into a bizarre miasma that continues to add relentless pressure.

“Syzygy of Unholy Trinity” is a trip into ambient terror, the beast howling again, hell stretching its way across earth and into “De Mysterium Noctis” that explodes with warped riffs. The burly fire from the assault steamrolls, fire and lava spitting from the crust, guitars storming as the howls batter unforgivingly. Fast and ashen, the guitars pick up suddenly, storming and curving toward chaos. “Performing the Ceremonies of Tragedy” is doomy and ominous, a demonic pace setting the tone, eating through flesh with devastating howls. The guitars keep stirring the pot, letting horror bubble to the surface and choke out all life. “Cosmic Curse Expulsion” is an instant burst, a tornadic tear that feels like a death bender, buzz sawing through with bloodthirsty guitars. The attack is stomping and scorching, making the heat feel insurmountable, jostling and melting into closer “Occultation of Typhon.” This piece is a final ambient track that feels spacey but also sludgy, noises folding and filtering into hell.

Demoncy end their 11-year silence with a bludgeoning with “Black Star Gnosis,” a trim and violent display that comes at you with a hunger and fury that weighs on your psyche. This is black metal with an urgency and an unmistakable taste of evil, pounding on you every step of the way. Demoncy might be long tenured and have a lot of miles on their tires, but they show no signs of slowing down and sound as ferocious as they ever have in their nearly 35-year reign of terror.

For more on the band, go here: https://www.facebook.com/Demoncy1/

To buy the album, go here: https://www.darkdescentrecords.com/shop/

For more on the label, go here: https://www.facebook.com/DarkDescentRecords/