Acherontas: Tat Tvam Asi {Universal Omniscience}
{XLI A.S. Zyklon-B Productions. Genre: Orchestral. Metal. 47.6 minutes}

a l p h a

Focusing on the philosophies of The Temple of The Vampire, this elitist Satanic Vampire band returns to take your mind into a swirling vortex of etheric predation and immortal contemplation.

I. Alfa: Genesis {instrumental}, II. Tat Tvam Asi, III. Soma Elixir Of The Ancient Ones, IV. Kali-Yuga, V. Sophia {instrumental}, VI. The Final Harvest, VII. The Dreamer, VIII. Omega: The Seal Of The Dragon

The ritualistic opus begins with the sublime Alfa: Genesis, a beautifully melancholy violin sonata layered to compliment the two inter-plays. Launching into entropic sonic permutations with a vocal and musickal style reminiscent of Emperor, combined with deeply-demonic invocative narratives spoken in both Greek and English, casting images of a dark pagan history with a modern Black Metal expression.

Particularly enjoyable are the inclusions of enchanting succubus Weisses Blut's necrogasmically passionate voice {Kali-Yuga} in contrast with Acherontas' overall pervasive bestial echoings, as if resounding across space and timelessness, descending from mountains and through the shadowy forests of Hellas.

The introspective Sophia offers a hypnotically lachrymose piano sonata, blending into the prognosticating The Final Harvest which wonderfully mixes the epic Metal with a haunting instrumental orchestration, and mirthful spectral whisperings. The Dreamer begins with a frantic organ, slipping into the dark electrical percolations again, amidst gloomy ceremonial enunciations of doom or self-salvation. To the sounds of the purifying bell, the Vampiric ritual concludes with an ecstatic Omega: The Seal of The Dragon.

Through the inter-dimensional looking glass, the booklet unleashes sepia visions with a lucid dream style, featuring Baphomet and The Winged Skull of Ur, blending into spectacles of our origins as the alien-predators elite.

Hail Baphomet! Hail Tiamat! Hail Satan!

5/5

o m e g a

STUTTHOF - Drakon o Megas

Stutthof
Towards Thy Astral Path

Captures the sense of the Warrior ethos and the mystical ambiance. The "Algiz" rune {the "war rune"} upright and inverted flanks the logo of this Grecian band "Stutthof" {"tower"}, with Black Metal music reminiscent of the Emperor-style, but for Me, what was most remarkable is the intro piece "Blut" which is quite entrancing with its transmutating quality, then on to the rest of the opus which contains keyboards to accentuate the atmospheric quality, and it works quite well. The instrumental "Boden" bears resemblence to something Midnight Syndicate would produce, and that is assuredly a great compliment, as anyone who has been sonically graced by them would attest, and the piece seems to capture the 'spirit' of the ancient world. For fantoms of European-type Black Metal, Stutthof delivers solidly.

STUTTHOF
And Cosmos From Ashes To Dust...

[ Click image for larger view ]

"Under The Sight of The Dragon, who shall be able to stand?"

The second CD release from this Vampiric Black Metal band hailing from Dionysian Greece, and Stutthof certainly channel that primordial pagan essence to epically infernal proportions. I have been fortunate to have recently received this complimentary unleashing in the Hell-Post, and have been aurally gratified by what I have heard. Their evilution is evident, especially in the orchestral compositions "An Invocation To Those Who Have Risen" and "Apokon 'O Metal", beautful pieces accompanied with a darkly angelic voice - one receives the impression of a toga-frocked devilish diva echoing across the centuries. And the Metal is just as furious as ever, with the bestial poetry and howls of Acherontass emerging as if from the portal of the Abyss.

The diabolic aesthetics are repleat herein, gracing every other page in the booklet with scenes of Sabbath rites and glorious Dantean depictions of infernal spectacles. Most notable about this CD, is that it is dedicated to the eternal Anton Szandor LaVey and the mighty Temple of The Vampire . Definitely giving credit where it is due, acknowledging the true origins of Satanism and Vampirism instead of the typical and misleading media misrepresentations, as amusing as those may be. Although Stutthof certainly presents highly psychodramatic visuals and performances.

*Band Members {descriptions from booklet}: Acherontass {6-String of Infernal Devastation, howls, and poetry of Drakkonian Witchcraft}; Norg {4-String Axe of Shadowland}; Thyrane Sigel {Wolfpulse & Warhammers}.

Track List : I. An Invocation To Those Who Have Risen {based on the philosophies of The Hekal Tiamat}. II. Vampiric Metamorphosis. III. Kepaeopoe Eeahnh. IV. Crossing The 9th Gate To The Kingdom of Shadows {incorperates a portion of 'The Infernal Diatribe' by Dr. LaVey}. V. Apokon 'O Metal. VI. The Breaking of The 7th Seal {based on the theme of the film "The Ninth Gate"}.

For those who appreciate 'Vampiric' Black Metal, Stutthof absolutely embodies this genre.

Rating: 5/5.

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