Welcome, everyone, to my review of the self-titled album by Antiquus Infestus.

After listening to the album in full—and giving myself time to reflect on the experience—I’m excited to share my thoughts on the journey it delivered.

First off, I was genuinely surprised by just how strong this album is from the very start!. It strikes a great balance between the heaviness of death metal and the atmospheric, chilling qualities of black metal, blending the two in a way that ties the entire record together brilliantly.

Track 1: Antiquus Infestus

The album kicks off with a compelling ambient intro that sets the tone perfectly. There’s no hesitation with this opener—right away you’re hit with a relentless blastbeat section, backed by dark, brooding guitar chords and vocals that give the track a genuinely demonic aura. From the moment I heard this song, I knew this album submission was going to be something special… and it turns out I was completely right.

The section that begins at 1:15, where the chaos subsides and the spoken vocals come in, adds a really cool layer of depth. After hearing the line “You build your temples on the dust of forgotten gods,” I knew I had to check whether a lyric video existed—and I was happy to find that it did.

Track 6: Ereb Plague
My second favourite track on the album is “Ereb Plague,” and I was genuinely impressed with how this one turned out. It’s a super downbeat, grimace-and-headbang kind of song—the kind that makes you pull a face without even realising it. The thudding bass and electric guitars create a thick, packed wall of sound that briefly breaks apart to let a really sinister guitar melody take centre stage. It’s brilliant. Then that bass–guitar duo I mentioned crashes back in, perfectly synced.

The vocal direction on this track is also spot-on, sharp, aggressive, and right in your face. I’m fairly sure there are a few vocal layers running underneath, giving everything extra fullness and weight. I also loved the guitar tone at the 1:02 mark. The drums and bass drop into a much slower tempo, creating a menacing, dragging atmosphere that sets up a unique high-string guitar melody. It’s a standout moment in an already fantastic track.

Track 7: For Thine Is My Kingdom
This was another big one track for me. With a runtime of 3:45, it packs in plenty of interesting twists and turns. One moment that really stood out was the time-signature change at 1:05—a shift that sounds pretty challenging to execute, especially since it moves from fast to slow almost instantly. Bands that can pull off transitions like this always impress me; it shows real skill and tight musical synergy. This track has several moments just like that—quirky, unexpected, yet technically sound changes.

At first, I thought the song would stick to the same tempo and energy as its opening half, but I was quickly proven wrong. It takes a very cool and surprisingly melodic turn, and it works incredibly well. I genuinely hope the band explores more of that heavy-to-melodic contrast in future tracks, because they pull it off beautifully.

Track 8:
This was, without a doubt, my favourite track on the album. The last two songs have the longest run times, and because of that, I feel this band really excels when they have the space to build emotion and take you on a genuine musical journey. There’s so much to appreciate in this track.

I was particularly impressed with the short breakdown-esque section at the 02:22 mark. Even though it’s brief, it’s incredibly impactful—tight, well-produced, and right in your face when listening through speakers.

Then there’s 02:53. The music suddenly pulls back and gives way to a surprisingly calm moment—completely unexpected at this point in the album. It’s a noticeable departure from the surrounding heaviness, and it really highlights the synergy between the drummer and lead guitarist. The result is a beautifully harmonious passage that feels almost magical.

I’ve always loved when bands take their solos seriously, and this track absolutely delivers. These moments are a perfect way to show listeners who you are as musicians and as a band. The closing section especially is fantastic—genuinely magical work.

A quick note: the rapid little flourishes on the cymbal tops throughout the track add a lot of texture and make a big difference. Great job.

A quick shout-out to the bass guitar.

As a fan of bands in the “Beyond Creation–style technical death-metal bracket”, especially those that lean into that signature fretless bass sound—I’m seriously impressed. This band has found a player who not only keeps up, but elevates the entire mix, making the bass a massively prominent part of their overall sound. Across every track, you can hear intricate melodies weaving through the heavier chugs, adding depth, richness, and a huge sense of weight. Massive kudos to Asmodeus.

Overall Rating
I’m thrilled to have had the chance not only to listen to this album, but to review it as well. From start to finish, it’s packed with genre-defining brilliance, perfect for fans of black metal, death metal, and the more obscure corners of the genre. Each member showcases their strengths on every track, creating a richly layered and dynamic album.

The production is nearly top-notch, giving the record the kind of punch that’s essential in today’s metal scene.

For all of these reasons, I’d give this album a solid 8.5/10.