There are times when you know that you justhaveto review an album and not just because you have to because there was something that caught your attention. In this case, it was the fact that Black metallersDARK RINGcome from China, and I just had to check them out. It is not often that you get the chance to listen to an extreme album coming from the Far East. The band was formed in late 2012 from the ashes ofEVIL MAREand“Reborn From The Inferno”is their debut album, released fromMetal Hell Records.

After two or three spins I can safely say that"Reborn From The Inferno"is a good Black Metal album although it isn't something that you haven't heard before but still it is something that you will enjoy. Apart from the standard characteristics of a Black Metal album with the fast rhythms, blast beats and shrieking vocals,DARK RINGhave enhanced the music with many more elements. First of all, the album can be labeled as Symphonic Black Metal via the extensive use of keyboards bringing also an epic touch to the sound. Along with keyboards there are piano, violin and flute melodies broadening the musical spectrum from the Black Metal norms. Furthermore, the band steps pretty often into the Power Metal territory with galloping riffs, fast and technical riffs and a less extreme sound, as well as into the Folk Metal one, primarily in the beginning and end of“Bleed”andblamethe flute for this. The album features two instrumental tracks;“For The Elapsed”and“Recommencing”, where the keyboards, the piano and several ambient sounds create a very nice atmosphere. One thing that I didn’t like though was the sound of the keyboards that totally lacked of depth and resembled the sound of a midi file, bringing in mind the music of an olderFinal Fantasyvideo game.