CULTIST
Chants Of Sublimation
(Morbid Chapel / Nigredo Records)
22:20min

Steeped in mystery in regards to members, CULTIST hides behind a cloak of Black Metal darkness. We DO know that band members hail from other bands such as DAUDEN, URARV, DARVAZA and FIDES INVERSA, but not much else. "Chants Of sublimation" is a 5-track EP with no prior releases. First off, all tracks begin with the title of ‘Chant Of’, so I’ll leave that out of the titles. ‘Legion Of Nothing’ starts the EP with a rawness and mid-tempo delivery that slightly reminds me of AMYSTERY mixed with MALIGN, but with less "Umph!" and swagger. The guitars and vocals are typical Black Metal, and not necessarily distinctive to separate from other bands in the genre. ‘The Oldest Sin’ is reminiscent of something I can’t quite put my finger on, but I don’t mind. The band feels like they’re playing in some dingy club with wet floors, peeling paint on the walls and a bathroom door you dare not open. And that’s a good thing. ‘He, Forever’ begins with dual guitars before opening up the room with a slightly more upbeat track. CULTIST sound like they carry mounds of experience while not really stepping into new territory. ‘The Unspoken Name’ is a similar song. And I must say at least the band is consistent. Where other bands tend to wander aimlessly with no real direction, it’s perfectly clear of CULTIST’s intentions. The final track ‘Anti-Cosmic Immolation’ continues to not stray from the path and doesn’t fuck up a very solid group of songs. CULTIST seem to play it safe. There’s not really new ground discovered. But maybe the band simply wants to play their Black Metal the way it should be played. You may not be mesmerized, but you won’t be disappointed either. For more information, check out www.facebook.com/morbidchapelrecords, www.facebook.com/nigredorecords

David Simonton

David Simonton

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