In a crowded market of goat suppliers in the Metal scene, Austrias ARSGOATIA (featuring ex – OUR SURVIVAL DEPENDS ON US members) stands above the mob. Their infectious blend of cold-hearted Death and very old Black Metal offered me a lifeline back into a scene that was boring me lately. I need to say that ARSGOATIA’s music isn’t particularly innovative, certainly its influences are visible on its furious, blackened sleeve. There are fragments of very early MORBID ANGEL, whiffs of BEHERIT / IMPALED NAZARENE and tastes of SLAYER when they were still wild. VENOM drapes over it all of course. Well, the mix is somehow fresh and sounds freaking bone crushing. It’s the strange blend of influences and how they interact and grind against one another that makes “Hiding Amongst Humans” so entertaining. ARSGOATIA’s focus on a barbaric and sinister ritual allows oddities and normalcies, harshness and beauty come together in a perverted yet fitting manner. Listen and understand. It’s not made for everyone of course. More information at: www.facebook.com/arsgoatiaofficial, www.facebook.com/vanrecords

Austrian Black Metallers ARSGOATIA have just unleashed their debut album on famed Ván Records. The band formed in 2021 and has quickly worked on enough music to crank out a full-length album. This should be an interesting album as you can never go wrong with Austrian Black Metal (SUMMONING, PAZUZU, ABIGOR) and with the help of Ván Records being one of the label leaders currently in extreme music championing the genre it’s a win-win situation. Consisting of members / former members of DEATH DAEMON and BELPHEGOR lets see what these guys bring to the table. I could not find any demos or previous material, but with a line-up with this kind of curriculum vitae I don’t expect to be disappointed so let’s dive right in. ‘Tongues Orifice Fire’ kicks things off with a nice blend of blistering speed and crazy haunting guitars. The vocals range from screeching Black Metal to operatic clean vocals with some similarities to Attila Csihar. The drums are pummeling and are not drowned out by the production or other instruments. The guitars are very catchy and lead the way into the abyss. ‘In The Veins Of The Saints’ brings out a bit of BELPHEGOR with its insanity kicked up to 11. Things take a slower pace with ‘When Heresy Repeats Itself’, a downtrodden track that feels like a demon is slowly beginning to possess your soul…taking its time and making sure that each piece of the soul is blackened. ‘Slay Burn Immolate’ was an ok song, it didn’t capture my attention as much as the other jams on this album. ‘Stigmata’s Mouth’ picks things back up with a slow catchy intro walking one towards the funeral fog covered cemetery. The clean vocals on here have a heavy feel of a CRYPT SERMON vibe. We arrive to the final track ‘Tyrant Of All Men’, the songwriting here is superb in my opinion with the tribal-style drums and guitar hooks on here really make it my favorite on the album. All the elements of what the band brings come together like a finished puzzle and a nice way to end the album. Overall, a fun album to listen / jam out, consisting seven tracks just over 30 minutes. The band brought their “A” game on this debut and showcased what they are all about. Best keep an eye out for the CD as it is limited to 500 copies and comes in a “slipcase made of black “leather structured” carton-stock with silver hot-foiling” which is sure to be a collector’s item by the time of this review being published. Worth checking out this debut and start looking at the label’s website to grab a copy of the CD before its too late. For more info: www.facebook.com/arsgoatiaofficial, www.facebook.com/vanrecords