Debut from Denmark’sThe Arcane Order, but not just any debut, as the band are not just any band. Formed by guitarist Flemming C. Lund(ex-Autumn Leaves and Invocator), this is modern thrash metal at its best. Boris Tandrup (ex-Autumn Leaves) on bass, Morten Løwe Sørensen on drums and vocalist Kasper Thomsen (contrary to what you might have read, Kasper has not left Raunchy) complete what I believe to be one of the most exciting European bands at the moment.

Despite the press release categorizing them as ‘death core’(it seems that everything nowadays has to have ´core’ in it), The Arcane Order don’t fall into the ever so repeated current trend so I’m not going to compare this great band with any of the more well known contemporaries, especially some flag bearers of Swedish melodic death, it would be far too easy, unfair and also untrue.

One listen to first track Infinite Ghost Anathema and it’s clear that we’ve got a special band here. The sound is thick and powerful throughout the whole album, amazing for a four piece. The Danes combine strength, speed, aggression and melody like it’s the easiest thing since slice bread and let’s not forget this is a debut! There’s a magical quality about this band, there’s no doubt.

I hope The Machinery of Oblivion is the first of many more to come because The Arcane Order are already in my list of very favourite bands.