Mercenary's 2002 debut Everblack, released on Hammerheart Records, announces a band fully formed and ambitious. The Dutch trio—Martin Gonzalez (vocals, guitar), Jan Mocken (bass), Steven Howe (drums)—build their sound from death metal aggression and speed metal's breakneck momentum. The crisp, modern production makes the heaviness of tracks like "Screaming From The Heavens" land harder. What sets this apart is precision: riffs are intricate but never convoluted, vocals varied and expressive, the songwriting structurally intelligent. These are songs demanding repeated listens—complexity reveals itself gradually. Everblack sits in that sweet spot where technical proficiency serves songwriting rather than the other way around. If you appreciate modern metal respecting both craft and intensity, this is essential.