Black Metal. No, wait, not that one; but the other, unpolished predecessor of whatever came next. I mean BATHORY, VENOM and you know the rest of the list. VENERATION from Indonesia live in the past and they do it in style. Close your eyes and let “Thy Infernal” take you somewhere beautifully rotten and dangerous. Intricate songwriting, matched by tortuous guitar work that may sound outdated (and in reality it is), but which draws from early WATAIN and the subsequent Scandinavian scene with an aesthetic outcome that is both modern and indebted to the original sinners (again: BATHORY and VENOM). The production of this album is anything but good, but fits the agenda of this pretty unknown band. VENERATION breaks the mold of joyless second wave worship in favor of blistering, blackened fun. It isn’t exactly sophisticated, but if it can sink its claws into you as it did for me, you’ll find there’s much to like and little to object to here. www.fallentemple.pl