Deathrite – Flames Licking Fever (Review)

We’re not quite far into the year of 2025, but the first few weeks recurringly surfaced the denomination of a fever dream. Having come up on a high frequency during and after the inauguration of Donald Trump as well as the happenings surrounding the German government, we were made aware that we’re collectively experiencing one of the wildest fever dreams that could be imagined. This might have been surprising to some, yet we were already able to underline these cognitions with the perfect soundtrack delivered for your fever dreams by Leipzig-based Extreme Metal combo Deathrite, who offered soundscapes to take over all of your worst fever dreams.

With their 2024 full-length release Flames Licking Fever, Deathrite return two years after the release of their preceding EP Delirium. On this EP, these guys already showcased that they underwent quite a progression regarding their sound when comparing to their Century Media Records release When Nightmares Reign. Although attentive listeners might have been able to recognize on the aforementioned album already, their sound shifted a little further away from the spheres of Swedish Death Metal and impleneted quite a hell of a strong 1st Wave Black Metal sound. The result was pretty amazing, I highly favored this EP. Now, after two years of refreshment, the previously started fever dream that made up the environment of Delirium continues on their latest full-length Flames Licking Fever.

When starting off this album, Deathrite do what they already did on Delirium. Initially, there are strong allusions at the sound of the preceding release. When Delirium started off, we could still hear certain rings of When Nightmares Reign before heading towards different directions. When Flames Licking Fever kicks in, the first few moments of “Crippled Ego” heavily remind of the sound that was predominantly present on Delirium. However, again, we head towards quite a different direction, although the turns might not be as drastic as it has been the case on Delirium.

During the first listening of this album, it might be mistaken to move quite closely right next to the preceding EP Delirium. To a certain extent, this also seems to be intentional. Especially when taking a closer look at the theme of this album that also wanders about within the spheres of feverish dreams, thus continuing the environment of Delirium, a certain connection between these releases definitely took place on purpose. However, it is necessary to break down the sound of this album a little further to find out about the facts that will show you that this sound can only loosely be compared to the tone that Deathrite presented on Delirium.

The most important aspect to see the strength of this album stems from the drum patterns that make up the foundation of Flames Licking Fever. On Delirium, the symbiosis between drums and guitars blatantly honored the sound of 1st Wave Black Metal. However, this was only instrumentalized while merging a sound that implemented strong nuances of Speed Metal and classic Rock that brought the heavily present rolling sound onto this EP. On Flames Licking Fever, Deathrite take a different turn, which can especially be heard when listening closer to the drums that move way further into the realms of 1st Wave Black Metal than before. Especially the collision of Punk and Metal delivers the strong energy of this album. Although the drums often move towards faster patterns that showcase elements of blast beats as on “Deadbeat”, we always remain right in between fast and aggressive Metal drums and energizing Punk patterns. Moving back and forth between driving Punk drums as the D-Beat driven “Misanthropic Rush”, mid-tempo Metal sequences and stomping moments of Black Metal, the sound that is fabricated pays tribute to the originators of the genre of Extreme Metal while implementing the elements that still make up the strengths of Deathrite.

Similarly, the guitar riffing also offers fresh nuances. While the rolling riffs of Delirium kept your head nodding pretty much all over the entire EP, the feverish riffing on Flames Licking Fever pushes this sound into an entirely different direction. The interplay between driving Punk riffs and melodies / high tones that consistently uphold that frantic overall vibe of this album is what makes up the heart of this release. On “A Slave to a Poisoned Soul,” the interplay between drums and guitars can also be seen as a portrayal of the alternating perception of cold and heat, similar to your regular experience of fever. During sequences of blunter riffs, the drumming speed poundingly increases thus bringing forth the heat while sequences of higher and oddly feverish guitar melodies decrease the speed of the drums, transporting the feeling of slow and cold moments. Apart from that, the vocals also sit differently in the mix and moved a little further into the back, driven through a heavier amount of reverb. This generates the overall vibe that immediately has you think of Celtic Frost, while the references on Delirium always went a little further into early as well as mid-era Darkthrone. 

One specific track on this album that seeks quite some attention is “Gallows Trail” showcasing a different style when compared to the rest of the album. On this track, especially the guitar melodies shift from feverish underlinings of the overall drive towards a more prominent feature of the sound. This somewhat reconnects with the sound that was more present on Delirium yet still pushing forward into a divergent direction. This recipe is then also upheld on the album finisher “All Consuming Fire” and could be assumed as possible allusion at what is to come.

This full-length was again released via Into Endless Chaos Records and found a treatment in the format of a limited to 100 blue and limited to 100 yellow 12″ pressing as well as a limited to 300 12″ black pressing. Apart from that, War Anthem Records also covered a CD variant and Into Endless Chaos Records also released this album on tape format.

Boy, it took me way too long to write about this release although I got entirely hooked on it. This is a full package, starting off with the amazing cover artwork already that immediately transports the vibe that is present on the entire full-length. Deathrite is ever-progressing towards whatever direction they want to and I really favor the elements of surprise – especially when the progression takes place in the subtle details of the releases still upholding the spirit of the sound you’re coming for when listening to this band.