heavy-metal-darkness: Malakhim | And In Our Hearts The Devil Sings

Sunday, October 5, 2025

Malakhim | And In Our Hearts The Devil Sings | Iron Bonehead Productions

Release Date: 31 October 2025

Format: CD/LP

Genre: Black Metal

Country: Sweden

Sweden has always been fertile ground for black metal, and since their formation in 2016, Malakhim have carved out their name with a steady and deliberate rise. From the first demo to the "Theion" debut in 2021, their sound has consistently grown in scope and power. Now, with "And In Our Hearts The Devil Sings", the band returns with their second full-length, presenting a vision that is at once melodic, savage, and grand in scale.

This new album is an expansion on everything Malakhim has stood for so far. The songwriting is sharp and direct, leaving enough room for atmosphere through. The tracks are fast and aggressive, carrying that Swedish black metal fire, but they also open into passages that are massive, ritualistic, and almost hymn-like. "Solar Crucifixion" and "The Firmament Submits" bring towering structures of sound, while "Angel Of The Bottomless Pit" delivers a more violent, burning approach. The title track itself is long and punishing, dragging the listener into the ritual with full force. Across the album, the balance between speed and scale is natural, making the music devastating and immersive.

Lyrically, the band taps into the idea of Yetzer Hara, the inclination of man toward evil, which fits perfectly with the suffocating aura of the album. The words don’t just accompany the music, they intensify its atmosphere, like a sermon delivered in fire and blood. The artwork by K. Pavleska and Karmazid mirrors that tone, providing imagery that matches the ritualistic nature of the songs.

Production-wise, longtime collaborator M. Norman once again gives Malakhim the sound they need. Raw enough to keep the edge, strong enough to let the melodies and layers come through. The guitars are sharp and melodic, the drums thunder and push forward relentlessly, and the vocals roar with commanding presence.

"And In Our Hearts The Devil Sings" is a powerful continuation of Malakhim’s journey. It is an album that proves the band’s strength lies in refining their core sound while expanding its scope. Where "Theion" established them as serious contenders, this album confirms they are here to stay. Malakhim has delivered a second album that is as ritualistic as it is violent, as melodic as it is destructive. It is music meant for darkness, for the stage, for the gathering of black masses.

Score: 8.0