Archaic Thorn have been active in the German death metal underground since 2010, evolving steadily from their early demo "Hydra Throats" (2013) through the EP "In Desolate Magnificence" (2015) to their acclaimed debut album "Eradication" (2020) - all without losing their original ferocity. Anyone who appreciates the old-school sound of bands like Degial, Necrovore, or Repugnant will also love "Malicious Spears". On their second studio album, the Saxon trio logically continues this path. "From our point of view, it’s more catchy and features more distinctive riffs," says guitarist CL. "The sound hits exactly what we were aiming for - we wanted an organic production that honestly reflects our band’s character and still delivers modern punch." The album was mixed and mastered by Christoph Brandes at Iguana Studios (Necrophagist, Fragments of Unbecoming, among others). Stylistic consistency and a solid line-up go hand in hand for Archaic Thorn. "Lyrically, nothing has changed since our demo," vocalist/bassist MF emphasizes. The lyrics continue to revolve around "occultism, death, war, and damnation," themes that are also reflected in the eye-catching cover artwork by Sadistik Exekution vocalist Rok. "Malicious Spears" is likely to win Archaic Thorn a host of new fans. Anyone who can combine uncompromising brutality with refined songwriting on this level is capable of standing alongside the heavyweights of the genre.