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Belphegor - Goatreich-Fleshcult


*
=Staff's pick

The Crucifixus Anus Dei*
Bleeding Salvation*
Fornicationium Et Immundus Diabolus
Sepulture of Hypocrisy*
Goatreich - Fleshcult
Swarm of Rats*
Kings Shall Be Kings
The Crown Massacre
Festum Asinorium


Genre Black Metal
Helmuth
Vocals
Tracks 9
Helmuth
Guitar
Runningtime 38 Min.
Sigurd
Guitar
Label Napalm Records
Barth
Bass
Release 29 Feb. 2005
Nefastus
Drums
Country Austria
-
Keyboards
Similar artists Dark Funeral, Enthroned

Austria's Belphegor has been around for quite a while now. Since the beginning back in -92 the main theme has been violent black metal with furious blast and grind parts. Quite similar to the type that Dark Funeral performs. Goatreich - Fleshcult is no exception, besides the fact that the latest release from these Austrians are perhaps more death metal oriented than any of their previous creations.

Belphegors fifth album was put on tape at Mastersound, under the guidance of Alex Krull in Sept.- Nov. -04. After the recording sessions the band hit the road for fifteen shows on the infamous X-Mass Festival Tour before it was time to reveal the Goatreich - Fleshcult monument. And it's a truly monumental piece of work that is presented on this album. A very good production that is neck breaking with its heavy sound. Very positive.

And then we have the thing that I've mentioned earlier - even though it's about black metal in a very traditional way, there are obvious trails of death metal oriented influences. Something that makes Belphegor´s music very solid and heavy compared to similar bands. However, something that is unfortunate for Belphegor is the fact that the vocals are very monotone. The vocals go on and on without any changes whether it's up or down tempo. It isn't all bad, but some more diversity on the vocals would fit this band like a glove.

Goatreich - Fleshcult consists of 9 tracks with sometimes excellent metal and sometimes just average parts of transport for the listener. Luckily the highlights on this album are more represented then the moments of transportation. Or what can else be said of hits like The Crucifixus Anus Dei, the fast and heavy Bleeding Salvation, with its delicious choir in the chorus line.

The even more rapid Swarm of Rats, a song that takes my mind back to the era of Storms Of The Lights Bane by Dissection or the slow and mighty Sepulture of Hypocrisy with some really nice solos and arrangements. Perhaps the material is a bit thin, seen over the whole album, to be a real threat to the big war elephants in this genre, but as said - the listed songs are serious killer hits.

See also review of: Blood Magick Necromance

Production
Vocals
Compositions

7

6

7

 
Summary



7 chalices of 10 - Tim

Related links:

www.belphegor.at