Band Members- Dagon - Vocals, Guitars, etc
- Incubus - Drums
Track Listing
- Astral Path to Supreme Majesties
- Command of the Dark Crown
- Desolate Funeral Chant
- Cosmic Invocation Rites
- Conjuration
- Upon the Fire Winged Demon
- Ominous Doctrines of the Perpetual Mystical Macrocosm
- Crepuscular Battle Hymn
- Hymn for a Dead Star
- Across the Abyss Ancient Horns Gray
The mighty Inquisition's latest album titled Ominous Doctrines of the Perpetual Mystical Macrocosm was released in 2010 a few weeks in fact before i write this, then why, u must be wondering, is it mentioned in the same list of classic albums and bands that boasts stalwarts like Maiden, Priest and Metallica? 2 reasons. One, Inquisition are black metal stalwarts in their own right and have a massive underground cult worshiping ever since their creation in 1988!
Two, this is a classic! a true gem that centuries from now will still have the necessary elements to send a shiver down your spine!
The album starts with the thundering drums of Incubus, smashing the kit as if your life depended on it and the unique frog like vocals of master Dagon soon follows. The vocals are unique coz for the first time true evil black metal is expressed not by screaming or growling, but by slow and deep 'whispers'. Listen to any track on the album and u will realize, music can really sound evil with that hellish Dagon whisper.
The best part in "Astral" starts midway, when u are bamboozled by the superb guitar melodies that makes you wonder in amazement if u got the CD right. and just when u start to enjoy the catchy harmonies, its back to blistering , unrelenting Black Metal.
"Desolate Funeral March" is 100 percent true to its name. the music is so slow and the distorted guitars create a mind numbing picture of a figure , walking like a zombie. at over 7 minutes long, its also the longest track on the record and the creepiest with Dagons grunts and grim guitars.
"Conjuration" is a well deserved 2 handed middle finger gesture to all those critics of black metal who call the music weak and predictable. just at 56 seconds, its perhaps the shortest song composed in black metal, with the excellent electric acoustic guitar passage that acts as a prelude (calm before the storm) to the crushing "Upon The Fire Winged Demon"
"Ominous Doctrines of the Perpetual Mystical Macrocosm" is another grim black metal masterpiece followed by my fav track on the album "Crepuscular Battle Hymn".
Every track here is excellent and i really dont see any weak moments in the album. it has a lot of variety and musical variation to make it enjoyable even after several repeated listens, something that is so difficult to achieve on a black metal record. The evil frog vocals are really evil, while Incubus is a mad hatter drummer , whose limbs must be donated to medical science as a case study. Extreme, technically sound and tight!
Production wise, the album scores over its predecessors and this is probably a good thing coz good music needs the backing of good sound engineering. it still sounds hellish without the unnecessary over-the-top quality sell out production, so called evil demonic black metal bands of today claim to be.
"This album could even freak out Satan!" and is well on its way to becoming a classic! oops , my bad... its already is a classic!
My Rating
10/10
Listen to Astral Path to Supreme Majesties here
