After more than nine years, Polish black-metal veterans Christ Agony finally return with a new album. The legendary formation, which released its first demo back in 1990 and left an indelible mark on melodic black metal, celebrates its 35th anniversary this year. To mark the occasion, they have pulled **Anthems** out of the hat: a work that reaches back to their dark, mystical roots while also exploring new paths within their characteristic soundscapes.
Fans have had to wait no less than nine years, since the previous album, **Legacy** from 2016, is now far behind us. That album was seen by many as a breath of fresh air after the somewhat disappointing **Nocturne** from 2011. In the meantime, however, the members of Christ Agony have hardly been idle. Over the past nine years they have worked hard and with dedication on new material, which has resulted in their ninth studio album.
This new creation shows that the band still knows how to combine atmosphere, darkness, and intensity. Christ Agony sounds fresher and more driven than ever, as if the long silence has only fueled their creativity. Fans can expect an album in which the band continues its trademark style while daring to explore new elements. In short: the long wait is more than rewarded.
The blackened death metal—into which Cezary Augustynowicz occasionally weaves subtle doom influences—still proves captivating in 2025. There are no grand musical extravaganzas; everything is kept relatively minimalistic and “simple.” Yet one may wonder whether all that extra frill would have been necessary anyway, for it is precisely in this stripped-down approach that a strength emerges which makes the music feel raw, direct, and authentic.
It is especially the more doom- and mid-tempo-oriented tracks, such as **Rites of the Black Sun**, that come across convincingly. The calmer guitar parts in the middle section give the whole piece extra depth and atmosphere. In these passages, Cezar also showcases more diversity and nuance than in the more straightforward compositions on the record, which helps the album maintain a pleasant sense of dynamics.
Christ Agony belongs to that class of classic bands you simply *must* have in your collection, and with this new release they prove it once again. The album demonstrates that despite the long silence, the band is still relevant and knows exactly how to shape their characteristic darkness.
80/100