I usually like going into a review totally blind. I don’t do any research or reading up on the artist. I just like to pop the disc in, sit back, relax, and hear what develops. Fat chance here! The opening salvo of blast beats on "Christendom Perished" gave me such a start; it had me questioning my no-research policy. I must be prepared for the next time a band comes at the listener like this, lest I die of a heart attack or something.

This album kept me on edge for the entire listening experience. The unrelenting nature of this black metal extravaganza really is quite admirable. With very little variation in theme, (or tempo, or sound), the eight tracks on here (named, in sequence, Opus I – IX, except, for some reason, there is no VIII) are just the perfect length. Anything more than that would’ve had me moving my stereo into the garage so I could load up on carbon monoxide while I listened. In this day and age of pro-tools, I don’t trust anything on disc that sounds impressive, but if drummer “Necrolucas” was able to keep up with the ridiculously fast blast beats through one song, much less the entire album’s recording session, without studio trickery, then my hat is off to him.

Coming from any other label, I probably would’ve enjoyed this record a little more. A few years back, it was almost inconceivable that Southern Lord would even have put this out. Their front line of notable releases from straight up doom acts (EARTHRIDE, PLACE OF SKULLS, CHURCH OF MISERY, WARHORSE, etc…) was the strongest and most consistent around. Now, with Dave Grohl’s Probot money lining the coffers, the label seems to be going out on a limb singing acts that more experimental and non-traditional. I still respect Southern Lord a great deal, but they are running the risk of becoming a faceless, trend-chasing headquarters for hipsters, and we already have plenty of those.

- Broadbent

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