Pandemonium - The Ancient Catatonia
This is a re-release of their 1994 debut album – these Polish musicians regard their style as “satanic dark metal” and from listening to this release, I would say it is classic early 90’s doom inspired death metal, not doom death, just early 90’s death inspired by evil with dulcet lyrics are extremely morbid.
A track like ‘Different Part’ starts quite like a Pentagram full on doom number battling with some Celtic Frost inspiration, which I think the latter is where this band were trying to pitch their major influence. The material itself has not aged as there is still a number of groups producing this style nowadays, but they do miss the gritty feel, something that is included in these recordings, there is simply something wholesome about ‘The Ancient Catatonia’. Whilst I never really heard of this band prior to this, yes I get it, they are pretty damn fine at what they do. To hear such catchy deathly groove as depicted on ‘Morbid Gods’ really fills a void in one’s cynical trend orientated modern world. This is ungodly, unholy, whatever you want to describe it, it is a worthy re-issue.
This feels and is a very long recording, upon my first listen I was clock checking and wondering where the next track would take me, however, I am confident that you can get into this one, your attention doesn’t wain per say, but take your time and give this release some time. The jury was already out in this release a few years ago and I can only guess the re-release treatment will inject better flow in the distribution chain, from which I am truly thankful as this is a cool release, it is very dark and misery led, but the sound has a rather organic and natural feel to it.
A track like ‘Different Part’ starts quite like a Pentagram full on doom number battling with some Celtic Frost inspiration, which I think the latter is where this band were trying to pitch their major influence. The material itself has not aged as there is still a number of groups producing this style nowadays, but they do miss the gritty feel, something that is included in these recordings, there is simply something wholesome about ‘The Ancient Catatonia’. Whilst I never really heard of this band prior to this, yes I get it, they are pretty damn fine at what they do. To hear such catchy deathly groove as depicted on ‘Morbid Gods’ really fills a void in one’s cynical trend orientated modern world. This is ungodly, unholy, whatever you want to describe it, it is a worthy re-issue.
This feels and is a very long recording, upon my first listen I was clock checking and wondering where the next track would take me, however, I am confident that you can get into this one, your attention doesn’t wain per say, but take your time and give this release some time. The jury was already out in this release a few years ago and I can only guess the re-release treatment will inject better flow in the distribution chain, from which I am truly thankful as this is a cool release, it is very dark and misery led, but the sound has a rather organic and natural feel to it.
- The Majesty
- Memories
- Different Part
- The Black Arts
- Winter
- Garden Of Twilight
- Might Is Right
- Morbid Gods
- Unholy Existence
- Seven Signs
Label: http://www.oldtemple.com
Reviewer: twansibon
Dec 12, 2013
Dec 12, 2013
Next review:
Animated Dead - Tombs Of Carnage
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