DEATHCULT
The Test Of Time
(Caligari Records / Do Or Die Records)
35:17min

Usually if someone throws some Metal tagged as Black / Thrash at me I tend to react with an ironic “Yeah!!! Another Black / Thrash act!” as a couple of years back every hardly talented musician with serious problems in handling an instrument properly was doing Black Metal, nowadays I often have the impression that labeling yourself Black / Thrash is a way of making music while not being able to actually do so, at least not in a very fascinating way. Black / Thrash – in my humble opinion – regularly lacks the potential for longevity that such genre leaders as AURA NOIR, D666, ABSU, MIDNIGHT, TOXIC HOLOCAUST or classic DESASTER offer and tends to work well with a couple of beers or in a live situation but bores you to death when you are listening to it at home, fully concentrated and eager to hear something “interesting”. Fortunately, DEATHCULT belong to the positive exceptions and while not necessarily innovating the genre create some very diverse and in terms of songwriting and sound flawless Black / Thrash. Chicago based Tim Pearson is the sole musician doing everything on “The Test Of Time” which is being released on tape via Caligari Records and CD via Do Or Die and in the past was drumming for SCYTHE (with Rick Scythe from USURPER) and some other less relevant acts. His riffs wander from punkish Crust over headbanging Thrash rhythms to Death Metallic heaviness and blackish atmospheres topped off with tight ass drumming and harshly growled and roared vocals that I liked a lot due to their nonchalant yet furious tone. Overall, this is a fabulous debut and if you’re looking for high quality Black / Thrash that you might find yourself putting on again and again, “The Test Of Time” is highly recommended as it takes its album title quite seriously and indeed provides the long-lasting entertainment I yearn for. Here’s an album preview. Stream the whole fucker here (recommended plays: ‘Forms Of Things Unknown’, ‘Doctrine Of Hate’, ‘The Test Of Time’). You can also order the tape at Caligari whereas you will find the CD for not more than 5 US Dollar at http://doordierecords.ecrater.com!

Stefan Franke

Stefan Franke

DEATHCULT
The Test Of Time
(Caligari Records / Do Or Die Records)
35:17min

Bored of being in a band and having no full control? Start your own band! No apparent comrades-in-arms available? Do everything yourself! That would obviously mean, you do another one-man-project. Now I heard too much wishy-washy, keyboard-overloaded stuff by those one-man-projects to become really excited about the next one. But DEATHCULT is, thank Lemmy, not one of "those" bands. DEATHCULT is the baby of Tim Pearson from Chicago, formerly the drummer in SCYTHE and guitar player in MORDRID. And he must be one of those guys who doesn’t like keyboards at all… Instead, he seems to be into simple and effective Thrash, Death and Black Metal. At least that’s what "The Test Of Time" hints at. More than once, this album reminds me of the later offerings of DARKTHRONE, especially "The Cult Is Alive" and "F.O.A.D.". It’s the same punky feeling and the same sense for simple, yet effective melodies. But it’s definitely not a copy of the Norwegian heroes. It’s just some pretty similar roots and preferences. It’s fuckin’ DEATHCULT! And DEATHCULT has the same ability to write Extreme Metal hits. Example needed? Check tracks like ‘Mutant Generation’ or ‘Hail The Antichrist’ – great songs with earworm qualities. I remember being on the bus on my way to work with the chorus of ‘Hail The Antichrist’ running through my brain. But the six other tracks are very good as well. No one into pretty old school flavoured stuff should be disappointed by DEATHCULT. The tape edition by Cagliari Records (a new label run by the always dedicated Hansel Merchor of www.deafsparrow.com) is limited to only 100 copies, so be quick or be sorry. Caligiari did a very nice job, providing the tape with a fine folded inlay with all lyrics and a good layout. OK, there’s a CD version, there’s the tape as well… Where’s the vinyl? For the tape version, check out www.caligarirecords.com. For the CD, go to www.doordierecords.ecrater.com or www.facebook.com/doordierecords

Thomas Meyer

Thomas Meyer

Related reviews / interviews:
DEATHCULT - Cult Of The Goat (Ricardo Campos)
DEATHCULT - Cult Of The Dragon (Thomas Ehrmann)

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