Something about the sulfurous pangs of black metal, entwined with thrash’s eminent riffcraft, sets my metal heart aflame. The subgenres roam between the cold, calculating ire of Immortal or late-80s Metallica and the impassioned pandemonium of 1349 or Exumer, and thoughtfully fusing the styles together can unleash mayhem of murderous magnitudes. Ghent collective Bokkerijders1 treads the line between genres somewhat unconventionally, putting a heavier emphasis on riffs culled from outside the typical blackened thrash inspirations. Formed in 2021, Bokkerijders released an eponymous demo in 2022 and EP Silver Dust and Swords of Gold in 2023 before planting their flag with debut LP Crush Kill Destroy. Does their conglomeration of black metal’s acerbity fashioned into mountains of riffs compel listeners to gush, thrill, and enjoy?
Crush Kill Destroy teeters with the weight of the riffs scaffolding Bokkerijders’ songwriting. Summoning the likes of Bewitcher, Midnight, and Aura Noir, Bokkerijders weaponizes riffs that stick with ruthless efficiency. Where Bewitcher and Midnight wear Motörhead influences on their sleeves, Bokkerijders walks Slayer’s menacing warpath on tracks “Ashen Scream,” “Crush Kill Destroy,” and “Calcination Pyre.” South of Heaven and Seasons in the Abyss reverberate through these songs, yet Crush Kill Destroy lingers less in trad thrash than their blackened counterparts. One of the things that surprised me most is Bokkerijders’ calls to sludge-adjacent riffing via Mastodon and Baroness. The soaring lead midway through “Primordial Phosphorous Eclipse” might have come from Leviathan or Blood Mountain, closer “Fire Chaser” opens with a Crack the Skyeward riff, and “Locked in Gilded Chains Are the Guillotine’s Blade” echoes with notes heard from the house of Blue, albeit with more char.
In addition to hemorrhaging riffs, Crush Kill Destroy imbues ample blackened causticity with an unexpected emphasis on pagan influences. Channeling the smoke and resin of sylvan mysticism, Bokkerijders conjures atmospheres of Rauhnåcht, Havukruunu, and Kampfar through contemplative, wheedling guitars. Riffslingers Jeffrey Andreka and Wouter Lemmens2 expertly maneuver between sticky melodies, zesty tremolos, and introspective riff patterns that extend beyond second wave influences. “Bokkerijders,” “Miracle Osmosis,” and “Primordial Phosphorous Eclipse” in particular invoke woodland spirits with sprightly guitar work that immediately reminded me of the aforementioned pagan-informed bands. Bassist/vocalist Laurens Oostrom nimbly reinforces songs with his grating barks and low-end countermelodies, loosed artfully while occupying a welcome space within the mix, and drummer Niels Verbeke gallops and crashes despite remaining mostly unobtrusive.
Bokkerijders’ strength lies in their ability to navigate the variegated landscape that Crush Kill Destroy tromps through, wrangling diverse influences into rousing riffs. Where most of Bokkerijders’ benchmarks discharge wares in raw, blackened trim, these Belgians boast a beefy production that sounds professional and robust without feeling sterile or glossy. This gives immense power to the instrumentation, and considering the pivotal role that riffs play on Crush Kill Destroy, success hinges on their presence. Bokkerijders ably unites them all under one banner; however, upon repeated spins, I find a paucity of substance beneath the hooks. Though the album runs a reasonable forty-five minutes, individual track lengths spool out—especially on the back end. Of the last five tracks, only one clocks below the six-minute mark, and though no song bores or drags, I find that I lack the urge to keep Crush Kill Destroy in steady rotation. Ultimately, the glut of riffs and relatively expansive track lengths combine to undercut the potency of what a leaner, meaner album might afford.
Bokkerijders supplies a resounding debut with Crush Kill Destroy, and it riffs and roars with brimstone and hellfire. Bringing together all these ingredients into a single dish with the finesse on display is no mean feat, and with a touch more compositional refinement Bokkerijders’ next outing might sink deep enough to escape extraction. Regardless, Crush Kill Destroy deserves some attention, and a presumed sophomore record will certainly garner my notice when the time comes. Until then I’ll keep my eyes on the skies, wary of horned little beasties bearing mischief and RIFFS.
Rating: Good!
DR: 6 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: Personal Records
Websites: Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram
Releases Worldwide: October 23rd, 2026
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