Panzerfaust – The Suns of Perdition – Chapter IV: To Shadow Zion

There you can see it: Prometheus carrying the weight of our world, of our sins! There aren’t many bands that portray war like Panzerfaust. It’s not just the horror and immorality of it, but also its symbolism. This band gets that, which is why reaching the end of this tetralogy feels bittersweet. Who else has ever pulled this off? Four albums exploring a single concept with such depth? Maybe only Obscura with its cosmological tetralogy. Anyway, last time Panzerfaust released something, I had my concerns. Let’s see if The Suns of Perdition – Chapter IV: To the Shadow of Zion proves me wrong.

Zion marks a return to the project’s origins—a thick, harrowing atmosphere that doesn’t rely on sonic fog. Instead, it confronts you with riffs that methodically build upon one another. To me, Zion reflects the tragedy of war, portraying it as a collective failure of humanity. And yet, it feels inevitable—like any Greek tragedy, where protagonists cannot escape the fate cruelly crafted for them by some wicked, mocking gods, and of course their own nature. This is the pain and aggression Panzerfaust conveys in this work.

The machine-like drums borrow the best from Industrial Metal, while the guitar riffs form a melodic wall that only Panzerfaust can pull off. It’s not MeloDeath or Swedish Black Metal—it’s something unique. Vocally, there’s consistency across recent Panzerfaust albums, with no surprises, though the delivery remains excellent. However, the true star is the stellar songwriting, which occasionally feels almost Proggy. Zion offers only a few lengthy tracks, yet they’re packed with twists and turns. The album never runs out of ideas or intensity throughout its 45+ minutes. The use of audio recordings is extensive, but for once, they add a narrative depth I genuinely appreciate.

Don’t worry, it doesn’t sound this muddy

Now, let’s talk setbacks. Zion is undoubtedly an improvement over Chapter III. On first listen, it blew me away. The challenge is comparing it to Chapters I and II, which I’d already consider modern classics. Time will tell if Zion reaches the same iconic status, but this is probably the most ambitious entry in the tetralogy. Occasionally, its density can make it feel inaccessible, yet the more I revisit it, the fewer flaws I find.

It’s tough to decide who delivered the best war Metal album this year—Kanonfieber is a strong contender—but I believe Panzerfaust has concluded this epic series with a bang, far exceeding my expectations. This album is sure to land on many year-end lists. Personally, I need more listens to fully process it, but what’s clear is that I now want to revisit all four albums in sequence, dissecting their details and symbolism. That’s the hallmark of great work—every time you return, it reveals something new.

Label: Eisenwald Records

Release date: 22 November, 2024

Website: https://panzerfaust.bandcamp.com/album/the-suns-of-perdition-chapter-iv-to-shadow-zion

Country: Canada

Score: A black sun, or 4.2/5.0 (it might go up later!)