Description

Black vinyl with printed innersleeve

A highly philosophical experimental black metal band from France, Deathspell Omega hesitated taking on the traditional roles of a rock (or for that matter, a metal) band too strongly, never setting into stone the exact make-up of the roster, or promoting its work through an official website. The group released its material through the Norma Evangelium Diaboli label, and discussed work in interviews in a serious — and almost academic — ideological tone. Deathspell Omega released their first two albums, Infernal Battles and Inquisitors Of Satan in 2000 and 2002 respectively. Inquisitors Of Satan is arguably the album which made Deathspell Omega what they are today. Infernal Battles was too raw and unknown, so it wasn’t until this release that the cult movement began with this band. To summarise this album, its raw and grim, and while it lacks the disturbing evil feeling that I get from later releases, it’s still pretty damn bad ass all the same. Inquisitors Of Satan offers all a black metal fan such as myself would want, raw guitars with fast, good, solid riffs and a dark atmosphere. The riffs can be a bit repetitive sometimes but they never get bothered, probably because the riffs are pretty good. This basically goes without saying that they are quite complex and only very talented guitarists could play them. Even if you don’t like black metal, you might like to get it just to listen to the riffs. Shaxul apparently did vocals on this album and he does a pretty good job. He delivers his vocals with passion and rage. It’s actually frightening in a way. This is particularly noticeable on songs such as Succubus Of All Vices. His vocals and high-pitched and shrill, in my opinion, he is one of the best vocalists in the black metal industry. If Themgoroth had done vocals here, this album would have been absolutely stunning. Nonetheless Shaxul is a good vocalist and that’s the bottom line. The drumming is pretty straight forward. Its basically just blast beats throughout the entire album. It does change around a bit but its basically just textbook blast beating. However, the riffs and guitar work make up for it. The drumming isn’t really all that bad anyway, it doesn’t weaken the album. Their next album Si Monumentum Requires, Circumspice was the one that garnered the most attention, both commercially and critically. But even this album is basically flawless and even if it lacks the shocking, evil feel of later releases, it’s still great and absolutely essential to any black metal fan.

Track listing:
1. From Unknown Lands Of Desolation
2. Torture And Death
3. Desecration Master
4. Lethal Baptism
5. Succubus Of All Vices
6. Inquisitors Of Satan
7. Decadence