PlanetMosh Keeping it Metal
Black Magic, ancient rituals, demonic possession and witchcraft are the lyrical themes and signed to Hells Headbangers. Hailing from Poland Cultes Des Ghoules discharge a potent mix which channels the likes of Mayhem, Venom and Hellhammer but provide a denser sound and a wider range of ideas. Opening track “Idylls of the Chosen Damned” opens with a scraping and howling before it is off into the night at full speed. The vocals are unusual in that they appear to be sung in a different time signature to the main riff yet it all fits together. There are passages of manic blasting which are augmented by slow doom like passages with the eerie horror filled voice of “Mark of the Devil”. The album has 5 tracks which are lengthy clocking in at around 10 minutes plus mark. “Vintage Black Magic” begins with a ritualistic drum beat with a distant guitar picking out a repetitive rhythm before the band stomp in and makes their presence known. Brooding build ups is the order of the day, repetitive passages that lull you into a false sense of security before a break with other worldly sounds and a spoken vocal line which is rasped and spewed and at times is reminiscent of Cronos of Venom. If this was stripped back to the raw basics of Guitars, Drums and Bass this would probably be just black metal done the right way but fairly unspectacular. The attention to detail with the background samples and underlying soundscapes add to the horror filled atmosphere they are aiming at. “The Devil Intimate” the final track is slow for the most part with a menacing riff pummelled into your mind with the wretched vocals projecting torment and suffering. Without warning the track lifts off into full speed and suddenly ends with a version of the riff on piano – was that piano buried somewhere? It is hard to tell. Hells Headbangers is a label which comes up with the goods time after time with unique and interesting bands that will not make the front page of the mainstream rags but will gain a loyal following throughout the underground.
Members
Mark of the Devil
Tracklisting
1. Idylls of the Chosen Damned
2. The Passion of a Sorceress
3. Vintage Black Magic
4. Festival of Devotion
5. The Devil Intimate
