Viserion — Fire and Blood Review
Viserion is an American extreme metal entity. On 16 January 2026, the band independently released their latest EP, Fire and Blood, A a volatile offering that sharpens their feral intensity into a concentrated, unrelenting strike.
Viserion, Fire and Blood Review: This review will evaluate every aspect of the album, from its intricate musical composition to its production.
The First Three Sins, The Summary
The First Sin, The Strings/Keys: Sharp dual guitars shifting between icy tremolo lines and piercing melodic phrases, while the bass thickens the foundation into a wall of sound. The Second Sin, The Vocals: Venomous, shifting between screeching rasps and thicker, heavier growls. The Third Sin, The Percussions: Rapid fills and double-kick runs create a sense of constant assault.
The Fourth Sin, Overall Discussion
Ignition of Chaos
As soon as you press play, Fire and Bloodis unleashed upon the listener with a chaotic instrumental surge. What follows is over twenty-three minutes of an unholy bond between creativity and chaos.
Viserion remains unbound by convention, driven solely by the compulsion to forge their own sound. It is a monumental, sprawling composition that refuses to sit still, dragging you through a landscape that is as unpredictable as it is extreme. This is not just an album or a collection of hymns; it is a statement of intent from a band that refuses to be caged by genre expectations.
Unbound by Convention
Viserion’s bloodthirsty shroud of black metal is a transforming sound, where elements of chaotic fury bleed through caustic compositions. By entwining a tortuous aura across the music, they fruitfully balance death metal’s iron weight, the ruthless blaze of grindcore, progressive dynamics with explorations of atmosphere — balancing melodic soundscapes with raw aggression — a mantle of unflinching assault.
The atmosphere here is built through melodic guitar layering and icy chord choices, backed by a raw-yet-clear production style. There are no synths to be found; the atmosphere is entirely guitar-driven, shaped by tone, harmony, and pacing.
Hymns like Harrenhal introduce a more refined, epic mood, reflecting the historical devastation referenced in the lore.
Lore, Bloodlines, and Obsession
Lyrically, Fire and Blood is a descent into the world of George R.R. Martin, specifically the Targaryen dynasty. As Viserion explains, the material focuses on the black magic rituals rumoured to be used by the family to control their dragons. Those violent, aggressive tones are not just for show; they emanate from unyielding instrumentation and a truly monstrous vocal delivery. It is a sprawling, high-concept assault that captures the heat and blood of its namesake.
Devilmanship & Guitar Dominion
Viserion present a floor-to-ceiling devilmanship; it is not just the composition of the music, instruments, or arrangements, but the flawless execution of the devilmanship. Unbound by convention, they forge a bloodthirsty shroud of black metal where elements of chaotic fury bleed through caustic compositions.
Benedetto and Cris’ sharp dual guitars are the primary carriers of aggression and melody, shifting between icy tremolo lines, sharp melodic phrases, and old-school riffing. Lead lines cut through the mix with a cold, slicing tone—especially on the epic hymn, Harrenhal—while Tasso’s bass thickens the foundation into a wall of sound.
As mentioned; there are no synths here; the atmosphere is entirely guitar-driven, shaped by tone and pacing.
Rhythm, Breath, and Vengeance
Matthew’s drums are ferocious and blast-driven, pushing the pace relentlessly. Rapid fills and double-kick runs create a sense of constant assault, yet the production keeps them clear and articulate, avoiding the mud of typical raw black metal. This intensity reinforces perfectly the themes of fire, war, and domination. Benedetto also handles the vocals, which are venomous, shifting between screeching rasps and thicker, heavier growls. The delivery is harsh and vengeance-driven, aligned perfectly with the Targaryen mythology.
Production: Fire-Ice-and-Blood
The production captures a fire-ice-and-blood essence—raw, cold, and icy, yet with a modern clarity that keeps every instrument defined. The mix is thick and dense, prioritising impact and intensity over spaciousness. Every element is placed with purpose; every transition is shaped to cut, scorch, or suffocate.
In hymns like the closer, Harrenhal, the refined sound and careful multi-track layering showcase a band that has truly mastered the blackened depths.
Terminal Embers
As the album closes, the music fades into the darkness, the fire flickers, and the blood runs free.
Total Assessment
Overall, Fire and Blood is a forbidden fruit of art. This is essential blackened metal for fans of Ultar, Wormwitch, and early-era Enslaved. A high-concept, fruitful assault.
The Fifth Sin, The Memorabilia
For me, this was not my first encounter with Viserion; I knew what I was stepping into. Having previously inked reviews for their 2022 single Reborn In Darkness and their 2023 split with Teloch Vovin, I can say that Fire and Blood feels fresh—a total restart.
The only downside is that the EP is far too short; it leaves you desperate for more. However, the closing fruit of art, Harrenhal, remains a personal favourite.
The Sixth Sin, The Artwork
The cover art—a towering, burning colosseum or temple—sets the stage for the Targaryen-inspired devastation that follows.
The Seventh Sin, Disrelish
There is nothing here to disrelish. Fire and Blood is forged in darkness and heaviness. While there is a hope of light, that brief light is merely the bulb of darkness being refitted.
Promotional material provided by Viserion.
The Hymns
01. Fire and Blood
02. Mad King
03. Reign of Fire
04. Blackfyre
05. Harrenhal
Viserion
Benedetto Marvilli — Guitars, Vocals
Matthew Marvilli — Drums
Cris Valentine — Guitars
Tasso Diakov — Bass