Swedish slaughterers Ultra Silvam are back after the success of their melodic black metal monster of a debut, Spearwound Salvation, impressed back in 2019. And they're building on what came before in a less immediately enjoyable album but one that develops on and widens the sound that the band are building in multiple ways, melodic yet raw-edged, adding elements such as chanted choruses (not always to perfect effect, opener Dies Irae feeling a little clumsy in the only weak point of the album) without subtracting the elements that make them special - the riffs. And this is where Ultra Silvam excel, moments like the rushing intensity of the title track, the closest present to the previous album's heights with a touch of Emperor-lite grandiosity, or the guitar-hero leads of closing stomper Of Molded Bread and Rotten Wine which carry on throughout much of the track, not being drowned out under the blasting drums or snarled vocals.

There's a real amount of variety, too, from the softer, acoustic-backed feedback of Tintinnabuli Diaboli to the more straight-forward, if not downright punky Förintelsens andeväsen del II: Den deicidala transsubstantiationens mysterium which has black-thrash breaks and tinkly John Carpenter-esque keyboards to boot! The slower, pounding Black Soil Fornication sits alongside the widdly chaos of Incarnation Reverse superbly, particularly thanks to that latter track's wandering off on a mildly proggy guitar passage before being brought back under control of frontman/bassist MA's snarls. And it all sounds great thanks to a well-balanced production that highlights the guitars and quiets the drums without smothering them.

A more than solid album, to the point where criticism does feel harsh. Yet The Sanctity of Death is overshadowed too much by its predecessor, which hit the target so well and consistently that it may be looked back on as something of a minor classic. This is an impressive follow-up to be sure, spreading Ultra Silvam's scaly wings but not focusing their vision, and is accordingly weaker for it despite the several highlights to be found. If you're new to them, definitely give both a try, and those who fell for the band after Spearwound will be delighted to hear more from them regardless. Here's hoping album number three can perfect and combine all of their many strengths.