Christbane - Triple Six Legion
In Drugoth's own words, Triple Six Legion is Panzer Division Christbane. Considering the parallels that exist with war, satan and extreme music, there is not a lot of bands that do this exceptionally well. Christbane with Triple Six Legion is one of the better examples of this. Where Panzer Division Marduk, and to a lesser extent Frontschwein were one paced, yet repetitively amazing, Triple Six Legion has the dynamic range that keeps it engaging. We have become so used to this within the Drugoth, Shograath, LLYR and Christbane universe.
Triple Six Legion opens with "Total War," which is an intro that includes samples of civil defense sirens, and a reverb drenched riff that emulates marching towards death. The razor sharp riffs and feedback of "Retaliation" mirrors hand to hand combat, and the battle hardened, "Inbound," drops bombs on bodies. And it is here where Christbane deliver the variation, catchy riffs and embedded savagery. There is always just enough space from above to see through the smoke and clouds of stench, to where tanks are mowing down the enemy.
Tracks range between 1-2 minutes, and the album's 15 songs are over in 28 minutes. It is the perfect length for a full length of this type. Christbane are in and out with maximum impact and carnage. Samples are used well, much like Panzer Division, with well times guns, war planes and the air raid sirens, all adding to the atmosphere but not overdoing it. Christbane let the songwriting do all the work, and after you accept it, maybe after a few listens, you can not hear anything else other than a giant satanic fucking war.
I enjoy the variation. Christbane do it subtly and they probably don't do it deliberately, but it's the small nuances or changes in speed that mixes up a riff or a drum pattern. The addition of guest vocalists with Shograath, Matt Priso and Karl Haikara also adds to the already powerful dynamic of LLYR and Drugoth. As always, Drugoth's drumming is exceptional, and always very interesting to focus on.
The title track is diverse, opening in blistering pace, it morphs quickly into a really catchy and beastly last 30 seconds, with a couple of grunts. I can picture the knife being inserted into the ribcage at this point deep within the trenches. "Shoot to Kill" is a highlight, and summarises the ethos of Christbane, and that is an absence of truly caring, they just don't give a fuck if this offends or doesn't sound pretty enough.
I like the little trick that Christbane use with the first letter of each song spelling Triple Six Legion. They also do the same thing on their debut self titled full length from 2023. "In Wake" continues the front into "Xaphan" and you can almost smell the death at this point. Haikari appears here and provides a truly satanic presence. And soon and so forth, Operation Antichrist was victorious. Many say that there are no victors in war, but Christbane differ in opinion, Satan was odds on favourite to pulverise them here into dust.
If you enjoy crusty, punk infused Black Metal written and delivered with zero pretension and tongue in cheek (but not really) warfare against Christians then congratulations because you form the small percentage of humanity that this album was written for, or as Christbane like to call you, the Triple Six Legion.
This is a very good album, and I can't tell if Christbane know just how good they are, it is hard to tell because they just give zero fucks and want to burn it all down. It is impossible to find any weaknesses across the 28 minutes. Straight into the Rolling Top Ten of 2024.
Released on Halloween (typical). Keep an eye on the Bandcamp for this dropping shortly thereafter.