American blasphemous Black / Death Metal cult CRUCIFIER are back with their third album. Out now via Iron Bonehead Productions.
Eerie voices and vicious riffing atop hammering snares come to life with a ritualistic and demonic feeling across the board. Blackened touches enshroud the morbid Death Metal onslaught, barbaric and savage in all its might. The loud bass cuts the rusty blade of the guitars while the inhuman vocals feel truly venomous. The drumming is unrelenting but thankfully doesn’t overshadow the stringed torment, showcasing the bands full furore with an excellent mix. Occasional soloing adds a surprising amount of melody to things without detracting from the vision of the record, keeping that unholy spirit boldly burning in the foreground. Familiar or not with this Extreme Metal cult, their irreligious raging will soon intoxicate you with the strength of remorseless musical sacrilege that scorns the very air from its opening moments.
From their more menacing blackened tempests to crushing deathly stampedes, Crucifier utilise every tool in their visceral arsenal to convey total demonic metallic majesty. While upholding the ways of old, their sonic path is one less walked in the modern day and age. Gutturally hellish vocals and instruments so maniacally fierce, there is a presence of something unspeakably dark on this record. Having existed since 1990, with drummer / vocalist Cazz remaining the sole founding member and driving force, his accompanying axemen deliver their duties gloriously too. This is a band whose roots in the 90s Extreme Metal scene are loyal to the last. Bludgeoning our eardrums with nothing but the most christ-defiling hostility, you can feel these musicians have been in the scene for decades.
Impassioned and emboldened, the satanic legion destroy all in their path until the closing moments of the record. Blasting furiously without losing their impact. The subtleties in the musicianship from the extremely tight drumming to the varied and complex riffing feels natural and inspired while the vocal delivery stands out as uniquely devastating. While Crucifier have a sound that will repulse those obsessed with the modern bastardisation of Black / Death Metal, I suspect that will satisfy them further while they validate the hungry old school maniacs thirst for true sonic trepanning. Admittedly it might even take you a bit of time to “get” into the groove of the record, it’s not an easy listen despite the phenomenal production job, but bearing with it yields a plethora of rewards. Some of the angular guitars and the flow of the songs is jarring, but in a way that reveals itself and its intent to not only make sense but be profoundly fascinating to witness develop. This kind of “penny drop” moment is associated with a release that isn’t accessible to all, but with such total conviction that is to be respected and is all the more enjoyable when it occurs.
A storm of Black / Death Metal sacrilege that will tempt even the holiest to join the legion of ferocious dogs biting at the crucifix. For me this album starts off solid and then propels itself into the stratosphere getting more and more intense with each passing song. Delivering total dedication to the black arts of yesteryear and growing the organic monstrosity they conjure across the songs. Definitely a piece crafted to be listened to as an album, not a mere collection of songs. “Led Astray” is a refined spectacle that shows the band at their pinnacle (to date), long may the ascension continue. A truly violent and yet stunningly executed slab of magnificent malice.
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