Album review: Hellrot – Satan’s Rock n’ Roll (2021)

Hellrot – Satan’s Rock n’ Roll

Mexico

UtterlySomber Productions

“Satan’s Rock n’ Roll” is the second full-length by Mexican one-man black/thrash tyrant Hellrot. The music is (as one may conclude from the title) firmly infused with a rock n’ roll flavour, but put through a black metal filter. If you know bands like Bathory, Motorhead, Slayer, Venom (and I’m assuming you do), then you will have a pretty good idea what to expect here, as the aforementioned bands are the foundation of Hellrot’s sound. “Satan’s Rock n’ Roll” is pretty much straight-forward, no-frills old-school worship in all its glory. Sole-musician “Tony Rot” knows how to handle his instrument, and churn out one head-banger after the other. Each song is packed to the brim with killer thrashy riffs, as well as catchy, finger-bleeding solos that are nothing short of impressive. The music is pretty typical of the genre, so don’t be expecting anything “new.” (You either like black/thrash or you don’t.) The drums are programmed using a drum machine. However, they do not sound so distracting to the point where I can’t enjoy the music. (Opting for a real drummer might be an option to consider though.) Most of the songs are pretty similar to each other, as they go all-out-war on the listener from the get-go. Overall, it's a solid offering that will romp n’ stomp all the pathetic weekend-warriors out there. “Satan’s Rock n’ Roll” is here! (HT)

EP review: Skognatt – Rain Eternal (2021)

Skognatt – Rain Eternal

Germany

Self-released

Skognatt is a solo project from Augsburg, Germany, playing atmospheric black metal and are here with their latest EP offering “Rain Eternal.” The music has a very calming affect synonymous with how one’s brain receives tonal signals from the ambience of rain. The title is self-explanatory in that sense, as the music successfully conjures a nostalgic mood that reminds us of bands like Burzum and Xasthur. The two aforementioned references are the immediate progenitors that come to mind while listening to this project. It definitely has a bit of that “depressive/suicidal” atmosphere akin to some bands in that style, albeit with cleaner tones. Simplicity is the key to the quality of Skognatt’s music, but so often people will mistake simplicity as a lack of originality or ideas, although, I can confidently assert that is not the case here, as “Rain Eternal” is compositionally rich, textured, and full of sombre cadences that will take you on a journey far beyond. This whole EP channels a deeply melancholic aura, while also showing a certain level of maturity and distinct traits that’s all its own. “Rain Eternal” is a highly addictive and fully realized work that comes highly recommended for fans of atmospheric black metal. Favourite track: Rain (HT)

Album review: Ordo Caper - Aphorism of Baneful Acts (2020)

Ordo Caper – Aphorism of Baneful Acts

Costa Rica

Dunkelheit Produktionen

Ordo Caper from Costa Rica is one of those bands that deserve more attention, especially taking into account the quality of their music. The music presented on Ordo Caper’s debut full-length “Aphorism of Baneful Acts” is some decidedly crude and blasphemous black/death metal that sounds like some totally strange, yet interesting fusion between bands like Incantation, Bestial Warlust, and Sadistik Exekution. The band also experiments with “noise” elements rendering to the overall chaos. I think it’s safe to say that Ordo Caper isn’t just another war metal band, as there are definitely some characteristic elements in their sound, and this can be heard on every track. Even the way they play the riffs are totally unique. This whole release radiates total insanity redolent of bands like Sadistik Exekution. The band did do a split with Rok, so I guess they must’ve been influenced by them. They play with various tempos, as the instruments constantly interplay with each other. It’s a pity that most people would overlook such a killer release, because Ordo Caper is the real deal and their music has an incredible amount of depth to it. There’s a lot of weird and discordant riffs that borders on prog, all the while maintaining a degree of minimalism. All in all, this is a very cool release, and I’ll probably listen to it again later, considering that there’s still some details that haven’t fully sunk into my brain yet. Fans of the bands mentioned earlier should check this out. There's a reason Rok recommended these guys! (HT)

Album review: Cerebral Rot - Excretion Of Mortality (2021)

Cerebral Rot - Excretion Of Mortality

USA

20 Buck Spin

Cerebral Rot is back in the game with their second album "Excretion of Mortality" which is once again full of blood, pus and mutilations, courtesy of 20 Buck Spin. That being said, you can expect nothing but an infestation in the ears with this profoundly disgusting, morbid and frenzied death metal attack!

The first thing that came to mind when I heard the album was the auspicious mix of influences. At the beginning of the song "Excretion of Mortality" you can hear a guitar part that seems to vibrate like a swarm of insects, which adds a lot of suspense and anxiety when the drums start in a slow tempo like a funeral procession. The tremendously deep vocals are vomited with blood along a bass that sounds like a wall of bones. At this point, bands like Demilich, Adramelech, and Abhorrence come to mind. A strong Incantation influence appears when the faster, more dissonant parts are invoked – even Autopsy comes to mind. The melodies are distinctly Finnish, whereas the dissonance sounds American. Everything sounds decidedly organic and at the same time decomposed. The next song "Vile York of Contagion" brings to mind the perfect fusion of Demilich and Morta Skuld. It is incredible how they devour the brain fluids of the great dead of yesteryear to regurgitate them and make it even more rotten. Everything sounds so familiar, yet thoroughly enjoyable. 

There are only 7 songs, although each putrid hymn exceeds the 5 minute mark and is drenched in a nauseating atmosphere that does not make you run away from the smell, but rather, sustain you from the guts. Beyond this, the songs follow a particular style of performance which can become somewhat predictable, but still great. I don't think they bring too much fresh air to death metal, especially considering how many bands are playing this style, although I do consider it as some of the best of its kind. "Excretion of Mortality" is a killer offering that expels its toxic waste with a noxious essence redolent of the dead. (Catacombs Walker)

EP review: Chronic Hate – Reflection on Ruin (2021)

Chronic Hate – Reflection on Ruin

Italy

Self-released (Bandcamp)

Chronic Hate is a five-piece death metal band from Italy that formed in 2001. So far, the band have put out several releases, including two full-lengths – and now this – their latest EP entitled, “Reflection on Ruin.” This EP pretty much blew me away. It sounds like the band has been honing their craft for years, as the verily accomplished musicianship can attest to this. The music is truly crushing and aimed directly at the skull. Vocals are very audible in the mix – powerful and guttural – including the band’s proclivity for sharp, brutalizing riffs, and hard-hitting drumming that sounds like live machine gun fire. (The drummer is an absolute beast behind the kit!) Chronic Hate perfectly demonstrates the effectiveness of EP’s, as the material in question is nothing short of devastating. There’s also an excellent cover of Dismember’s classic “Misanthropic”, which is a must hear. The band strikes a good balance between melody and brutality, infusing a heavy dose of Scandinavian influences into their sound, as well as some keyboard passages that add depth to the atmosphere. Chronic Hate is very adept at playing excellent death metal, as the song-writing and quality of their music speaks for itself. A really enjoyable EP. I’ll be checking out more of their material for sure. For fans of: Vader, Fleshcrawl, Krisiun. (HT)

Interview: Hexorcist (2021)

There are still bands who believe in the old ways that keep the unholy flame of black/death/thrash alive. One such band in particular, is HEXORCIST from Florida. They are one of my favourite new bands and feature veterans and former members from DEVASTATOR. Enjoy the conversation, and remember: IF YOU ARE FALSE, DON'T ENTRY!!

AVE!!! To inaugurate this interview, please tell us what Hexorcist is all about with an idea of your sound and influences.

Hails and thanks for the opportunity to be interviewed by your zine. The idea behind Hexorcist was to make music we’d listen to. Like most metalheads we miss the old sound of Metal. Not just the production and sound but the rawness of the music, the energy behind it, the fact that styles weren’t as defined as they are today. Black and Death metal were mixed with Thrash and it was all just a cauldron of evil sound. Our influences range from Celtic Frost, Possessed, Kreator and Morbid Angel amongst many others to list. Once you listen to “Evil Reaping Death” you’d be able to pick out all of our influences, we try to make it obvious through our sound what they are, without plagiarizing.

How was the band initially conceived and what is the connotation behind the name?

In 2019 we tried to restart a band where we had all played called Devastator. The reunion didn’t happen because we couldn’t get all the members to come back. We decided then to switch the style to incorporate more of our other influences like Sarcófago and Morbid Angel instead of a more Black/Thrash sound we had in Devastator.

The name was a pain in the ass for all of us to agree on. We went through at least 6 or 7 before we made a final decision. The guitarist came up with the name, with the idea that an Exorcist removes the evil from within, but the Hexorcist hexes evil into the body.

Where does the inspiration stem from to create such dark and blasphemous art and what are your lyrics based on?

The music just flows naturally, there’s actually not an intent to make it sound more evil or darker, it kind of just happens. Making happy Death Metal is also contradictory to the genre itself. Some people have said that we have some of Black Metal’s darkness in our sound, that may stem from us being highly influenced by It.
The lyrics are simply a combination of real hatred with songs about the occult. With the lyrics we also wanted to bring that old school, back to the beginning feeling. When lyrics were about evil, and darkness. No politics, no society, no zombies and pizza. The lyrics have to represent what the band is about, even though the band is a hobby we take it very seriously and the lyrics represent that.

What are the key differences between the demo and full-length? Are you satisfied with the final outcome and product? How are the reactions so far?

The demo and the full length are not very different besides maybe some production aspects. Most of the songs you hear in the full length were already done by the time we recorded the demo. The full length is more of a continuation of the demo. On the full length we had a change of bassist too, who also provided solos to some songs.

We are very satisfied with the way it came out. We were lucky to work with a great sound engineer that managed to catch the essence of what we were going for. Good sound but not over produced.

For the demo the response far surpassed what we hoped for. Initially we were just going to make 50 cassettes ourselves and give it to friends. But we were lucky and now we are even getting a 7” from Headsplit and Tenebrous Aberrations and a cassette repress from Goatthrone. The reviews and listener feedback for the full length has also been amazing. Reviews as well as listener feedback are full of praise for both the demo and the album. It is still early for the album but all reviews have been very positive.

Your music is quite straight-forward, yet the members in the band are verily capable musicians. I’m particularly impressed with the guitarist and how the solos are able to rip through my brain. Is there a certain limit to which the members apply their skills?

Thank you for the compliment! Well, there are 2 different guitar players both playing leads and Bass, one did all the rhythms and leads, the other mostly all the bass and leads. The idea was to have two different guys playing two different styles but to be honest, it’s hard to tell which one played which lead, they sound like the same guy. The drums are meant to follow and emphasize the music as a whole, no showing off, or unnecessary fills.

Can you tell us a little about your cooperation with all the record labels you’ve worked with so far? Are you content with the support you’ve been getting?

We have worked with some of the best underground labels. Starting with Dark Recollections and Goatthrone for the demo, to Memento Mori, Godz Ov War and Unholy Prophecies for the full length. We also worked with Old Skull Productions on a European cassette release of the demo and are working with Headsplit and Tenebrous Aberrations on releasing the demo on 7” vinyl.

All the labels have been great. Them as well as us are not in this to make money or become famous, we do this because we love Metal. Getting feedback from them and just the fact they want to release our music is a compliment, because it’s not a business transaction it’s more of I like what you’re doing let me help you spread it.

I believe it was Wagnar Antichrist who asserted: “We did everything we did for fun. Business kills real feelings and real music! To be in it and treat it like a business is the first step to do FALSE METAL!” - what are your thoughts regarding that sentiment and is there any “fun” in what you do?

He couldn’t have said it better. We can see that in many of the older bands, once it becomes a business all the fun and the feeling behind the music dies. For Metal that is especially true, that is why most bands best albums are usually the first. Because then it becomes a race to play what people want to listen to instead of what comes naturally. With Hexorcist we approach each song as unique. We just get together and play what comes naturally, we don’t over-think it too much.

On a personal level playing and releasing albums is my addiction. Nothing beats that feeling of getting your music on a physical format for the first time. This for me is 100% a hobby. There’s no intention to make money off of this at all. Our plans are whatever money is made through sales gets put towards the recording of the next album or something band related. I have been playing for over 20 years and I have spent 1000 times more money than I’ve made, and do not regret a single moment.

Tell us about the excellent artwork for “Evil Reaping Death” and what your vision for it was. Did the artist meet your expectations?

That artwork was actually purchased months before we even had all the songs ready. I think about mid 2020. I am a big fan of the artist and previous paintings he’s done. One night I was just looking at his page and saw he had posted that painting and I immediately contacted him about purchasing it. It resembled exactly what we thought the album was going to sound like. The artwork just looks like Demons bringing Evil Reaping Death. We are definitely thinking of using the same artist for our second full length.

Your opinion on the following:

The vatican: Would love access to their library of witchcraft and historical satanic texts! Besides that they’re nothing but a bunch of pedophiles.

Fanzines: Essential!!!

Satan/God: We are all Satan and Gods!

Sadistik Exekution: An excellent band! The Magus is a classic. They not only inspired many bands to follow in their footsteps musically but also visually. ROK’s artwork is very distinctive and unique.

What can you tell us about Doug Humlack and your tribute to him?

He was a good friend to the guitarist, he passed away last year and was a big influence and played in a lot of the local bands that he grew up seeing and associating with. Doug was an exceptionally great guitarist who didn’t flaunt his abilities. He could play anything as ugly as Blasphemy to something as precise as a Malmsteen song. Sentry At The Seven Gates is a small tribute to his memory. The latest band Doug was involved in was Spiritus Infernus, a band with virtually zero promotion and lack of good packaging/presentation on any physical media (some CDs were made) but the music is evil, and sick as well as the lyrics. Real witchcraft!!

Why did you choose to cover the band Devastator? I actually checked them out and was thoroughly impressed! Quite underrated I may add.

When we started the band it was supposed to be a Devastator reunion. When it became obvious it wasn’t going to happen we felt we wanted to do one last Devastator tribute. I was the original drummer from Devastator and the guitarist played in it for a short while back in 2002. In Devastator we were just a bunch of Cuban refugee kids playing Black/Thrash and drinking three times a week, we just wanted to make music and record. The fact that we managed to record 6 albums with the amount of time we spent playing dominoes and drinking it’s crazy. The spirit behind Hexorcist, if not the music, is very similar to what Devastator was about.

What is your opinion on the current state of the underground? Some say it’s dead, while others still believe in its ethos. If it was dead, would we be doing this interview at all?

The underground is not dead, saturated yes, but not dead. I do believe there’s way too many bands doing the same thing. Too many bands with more shirts than songs. But on the same note there are some really great newer bands. Anything coming out of Chile is just amazing and then you’ve got bands like Putrid, Evil (Japan), Morbid Messiah, Rapture (Greece), and Oath of Cruelty that are just killing it. The old days where everything was new and original are never coming back, but we can enjoy the many styles that came out of that era and are still being represented today. We are never going to get another “Altars of Madness”, or a “666” by KAT, at least not on those levels of perfection.
On the support side there are many more avenues for promotion than back in the day. There are many printed and online zines that do a great job helping newer bands like us get our names out there.

What’s some newer bands that you’ve been into?

The latest releases I’ve been listening to a lot are the latest Apostasy from Chile. It's just an amazing album, definitely worth it for anyone that’s a fan of late eighties Death, Thrash, Black Metal sound. The latest from Insane (Swe) it’s a great Thrash Metal album. Rapture (Greece), their last two albums are beyond most stuff being released nowadays.

Thank you for your time! I wish all the members in Hexorcist an eternity of hell and darkness. You may now hurl a final insult at all whores, posers & cunts out there…

Take your own life today, it’s not too late we believe in you!

Demo review: Temple of Gorgon – Worshipers of the Serpent (2021)

Temple of Gorgon – Worshipers of the Serpent

California/USA

Self-released

Temple of Gorgon is a breath of fresh air after being exposed to some perniciously awful post-black metal band on youtube. This is more like it! The debut demo from the Los Angeles-based solo-project Temple of Gorgon features 3 tracks of raw and intense Black Metal. It’s nothing remarkably unique, but some individual touches manage to shrine through. In a way, the music reminds me of bands like Crimson Moon, Masochist, and Demoncy. That being said, it has that idiomatic USBM sound stamped all over it – fury-fueled vocals charged with blasphemous riffs and a crescendo of malicious blasts and fiery double-bass. There’s also the presence of keyboards, which are sparingly used to add depth to the atmosphere rendering it a kind of occult feel. It’s a really killer demo clocking in at 13 minutes. The band infuses all the right ingredients – from the visual representation to the music – Temple of Gorgon will undoubtedly gain some followers as the quality of the output is undeniable. So behold, worshipers of the serpent, as we enter the Temple of Gorgon! (HT)

Interview: Human Serpent (2021)

There’s no need for any kind of grandiose introduction. Human Serpent is a great band from Greece that every black metal maniac should check out, especially if you’re looking for something that is more than just mere music. Human Serpent has deeper symbolism as opposed to the usual “Hail Satan” platitudes so common in the genre.

 
Morbid hails! To get this interview underway, can you please tell us what the band is all about and the core philosophy behind it?

Human Serpent is the physical, tangible manifestation of that side of our expression that derives from the deepest depths of our insanity. The way we have chosen to live our lives has reached that point of inner maturity where we are really, in absolute Practice, Ourselves! Not just another shell of the same old and molded ideals of the herds and their recycled "ethics". We choose to embody Denial in its utter and undivided totality.. We would much rather live in pain, than "live" the perpetual preservation of the slow decay... We are just like a huge piece of glass... There may be a day on which we break into a thousand pieces and nothing is left of us but pieces of broken glass, still we are never going to bend. Glass is never going to bend! Not for anyone! Not for anything! Human Serpent is the core of chaos immersed into the heart of our indivisibility of our being.

What is the connotation behind the name of your band?

Man is just another animal among the billions that have inhabited this planet, however it must be the only one that never understood its worth in the tightly-linked chain of life. Man can level everything to the ground just as easily as he can create something out of almost nothing. The name Human Serpent is the simplest way which we can express the "mindset" of everything that made Man an organic waste that is constantly flirting with self-destruction. An animal, a life form with the venom and the habits of a serpent.

You have a song called “Fuck Normality” – can you please elaborate on the theme and tell us what the song is all about? What is normality by your definition and what is detestable about it?

The main idea behind Fuck Normality is the head-on-collision course that we have chosen to take against the ever-decaying carcass of society and its rules...
As well as, that our individuality, both in terms of our physical essence and our imperious existential idea, will never become a temple of need-worshiping, but rather a beast whose thirst of creation can never be fully quenched... Because creation is the only thing that remains bottomless even when cast into the void of Time... And creation, in the form that we perceive and feel it, is never going to recognize rules, nor gods, nor kings, nor masters, nor castes, nor norms. Those are for those who seek "quietness" and "calmness"... The sheep before their slaughter are quiet and calm... And as things have been shaped in such a way both as a whole for humanity and in our personal lives, we have reached the point that one can be either calm or free.

How would you describe your sound to those who haven’t heard it before? What are your biggest inspirations?

Our biggest inspiration is life itself and behind that word every notion of the raw rage and intact sadness that we feel is present in our sound, shines through. The sound that is the most direct and immediate thing behind all our feelings... And what I have understood through a lot of personal experiences is that, the one loyal to a certain sound, or a certain album has delved deep into the labyrinth of personal and inner "search" and stimuli, with music being their only company... So, I wouldn't want to urge anyone-who may very well never had heard of us before-to do so based on a "label" or anything of that kind.. Everything has become so easily served in our individual golden platter, that by pressing some buttons on any keyboard, any and every one can find our music and then be the sole judge on if they find any sort of interest in our music or not...

How has the response been so far for your latest album, “Heirlooms Eternal”? Are you content with the reactions? Have people understood the essence of your art?

We are proud of Heirlooms Eternal and there is not even the slightest thing that we would have changed. We create music so that we can externalize all the shit that floods our souls... Each time that we go through the process of creating a full-length, we do so for us first. And each of our releases has a unique story behind it, because even if it's something done subconsciously, everything about what we are is experiential. This is something that almost instinctively influences everything and mostly the overall perception of how we are going to tread in regards with the composition and sound of that particular time period that a Human Serpent release is given shape. One of the biggest examples that we can give you is that we wanted Heirlooms Eternal to be our most "too filthy" album so far and many were displeased with that. A complete opposite of our most "too clean" album, For I, The Misanthropist... No matter how hard you might try there is no chance that everyone is going to like what you will come up with and this is something we really don't care about. As I said before, everything that we do, we do firstly and ultimately for ourselves. Yet, one thing that we understood by the release of Heirlooms Eternal is that those who were able to truly "feel" it, who were able to really experience it in its wholeness, chose to leave themselves be drifted into the deep, ravenous emptiness of its abyss.. And that was exactly what we were aiming for... We created an album with essence, with a beginning, a middle and an end, not just individual tracks to be uploaded in a playlist somewhere on Spotify.. Also, it was the album with the fastest, in practice, support by those still loyal towards the actual physical formats... Already the Tape format has been sold-out and we are currently in the process of printing the second press edition of our Digipack format which will include a bonus track..

Can you tell us a little about your image and the gas-masks? Do you associate yourselves with the whole bestial/war metal scene?

No, there is absolutely no association with the bestial/war metal scene. There are many reasons for why we choose to wear gas masks... But in one simple sentence, we can say that it reflects an allegorical side of humanity... Take, for example, the photo session of Heirlooms Eternal, one of us doesn't wear a gas mask, but rather, a black shroud covering his face. The reason for that is once again allegorical, it expresses the untameable of our souls.. Our souls that are without any kind of limitations.. And when one finds themselves choosing to jump into their personal abyss, one can transcend any and all limitations... There are no limitations in the vast seas of Chaos! There, one can only find the true Redemption! Without a glimpse on the other side, there can be no Redemption! With taking into consideration and embracing the human limitations and the rules of society, there can be no Redemption! Redemption is a personal and unique, in its true essence, journey for each and one of us.. Something similar to our Birth and Death...

Your thoughts on sentiments like “metal is one big brotherhood”?

Things are never absolute, there are many sides and many faces that one can see...

Do you think things like war, genocide, famine, disease, serial killers, etc., are a necessary sort of Darwinism to curb the ever growing population?

Darwin's law is a law which applies to all forms of life on our planet, yet, I strongly believe that it doesn't have much to do with regulating the population of each species, but rather, it has everything to do with the evolution and progress of said species. Me, personally, I believe that we, as a species, have reached that certain point where there can be no law-be that in physics or any other field of science-that can lead us out of the shit-that we dug ourselves in – and into any form of positive evolution... The process of our self-destruction has begun for many centuries now and the point of no return has already escaped our sight..

What’s some killer bands and albums that you’ve been listening to lately?

There are endless lists of albums and bands-from a huge variety of music genres-that I would like to mention, that I could go on forever...
Still, at this moment, I am currently listening to Swordwielder – System Overlord, a 2019 LP. Swordwielder is a killer Amebix/Axegrinder worshiping crust/punk band from Sweden that I find myself listening to very regularly since the first time I came across their music. I really believe that, beyond their more than obvious influences, their music has something that sounds both unique and fresh to my ears.

Do you draw any inspiration from cinema? What are some of your favourite films?

Subconsciously, there is no doubt that we are being influenced by all forms of art and, certainly, by cinema.. There are too many movies that we love! So many that it would be impossible to list here. Still, I would like to mention 4 movies I saw this past year that I feel have that "something" special to offer and surely, a great amount of food for thought..

They live (1988)

Her (2013)

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014)

El hoyo (2019)

What do you think of humanist ideals in black metal? Are they relevant or do you consider them an abomination?

The only thing that I feel is an abomination in black metal, in music and in any form of art, in general, is those who embrace any and all kinds of authoritarian political ideals and practices. Also, abominations are all kinds of herds inside black metal.. Lastly, we would like to use this opportunity to say a huge FUCK YOU to all those who have assumed the role of Depositary of the "ethics" of black metal...

For the end, tell us how you foresee the future of humanity taking into account all the bullshit that's happened lately. Will we ever be truly free or is this the beginning of a new dark age? Thanks for your time!

Taking a look back, in history, constant recycling can be seen... No matter the time period, mankind has always been living in "trenches", yet there are those "intervals", like the one that we are currently living, when mankind really shows its true and ugliest face... It would be extremely funny to me if mankind felt "free" 10, 20 or 50 years ago... When was mankind, in total, really and actually free? It is completely subjective, how each and every one of us perceives the notion of freedom.. Me? I just keep on reminding myself of something that I mentioned above also, You can either be Calm or Free...

Album review: Beyond Man - Beyond Man (2021)

Beyond Man - Beyond Man

Norway

The Sinister Flame

Beyond Man returns after more than 10 years of inactivity. First with the single, "Art Beyond Man" in 2020, and now with their flawless self-titled debut album recently released by The Sinister Flame.

If you are ready to enter the depths of the abyss, then join me as we seek the knowledge that is... BEYOND MAN!

Our journey begins with “Introduction: descending” and here I must emphasize my fondness in how the band gives supreme meaning to the intro by enhancing the whole experience. This album is like a fever-dream and trip into another world. I endured this trip by falling into a pit of profound suffering, as the darkness that is beyond man penetrates the very essence of my being. You are already dead, but you can still hear the noise of your body as it shatters to the ground, which is the beginning of the song, "Helel Ben Sahar," where amorphous creatures from spectral dimensions take what is left of your soul and dissolve it into infinity. The song begins quickly and then starts the occult ceremony with a percussion that seems to utter the words of ancient demons. The vocalist "W" appears to be in many bands (including Behexen). Vocals are switched from cleans to high-pitched gutturals that rip into your ears like sharp claws. The song "Art Beyond Man" begins with a riff that reminds us of the legendary Morgoth. It even sounds like death metal, and when you least expect it "W" screams in a way that seems inhuman! Like an echo in a cavern. The production is perfect, including the fact that there seems to be a touch of old Rotting Christ in their sound. The drum work is impeccable. Just listen to my favourite song, "World Without End," and tell me it doesn't inspire you with evilness. Everything is really audible and well-balanced, as the supreme precision transmits pure vitriolic fury. The album closer, "The World Encircler," is a true and authentic work of art, which features a lot dissonance executed in a creative mid-tempo.

All in all, Beyond Man’s debut album is a remarkable and highly original work, featuring an array of talent that is not to be overlooked. It would be an understatement to say I enjoyed this album. Highly recommended. (Catacombs Walker)