It's often stated that Texas doesn't have a healthy metal scene but it's spawned SOLITUDE AETURNUS, HELSTAR, WATCHTOWER, NECROVORE, ABSU, DIVINE EVE and a few dozen others, so what is it people are after? A new JUDAS PRIEST? The Hermetic occult DAGON is another notch in Texas' holster. The band is not very old and "In Desolationem" is the sophomore disc, but especially the vocalist Blood Moon Ausar is familiar to connoisseurs from his splendid logo and sigil art which has crowned many a release from BLACK FUNERAL, XASTHUR and the like.

Even so, it would be bad form to highlight a mediocre release because of a member's cult status, so I'm glad to say that as a vocalist he has the power to totally dominate. Also the guitarist performs vocals on the album according to the booklet so I don't know exactly what all these voices I am hearing are (neither does my doctor) but most of the time the capable MAYHEM-ic black metal is spiced by an absolutely insane Attila-like ranting, which I can describe only as a Shakespearean actor risen from the grave and deciding to give his final monologue to the attending ghouls and demons. Just listen to "By ye Rights of Word and Willcraft" for the most chilling and unique rhetoric performance in black metal since GRAUSAMKEIT recorded a dog. It can sometimes be a bit of a mess with all his theatrics and obvious improvisation, since he may not at times be in any kind of sync with the music but I find the way his growls and incantations add another rhythmic layer, which on a case by case basis coincides with the drums and guitars or doesn't, much preferable to often-heard run-of-the-mill Quorthon or Nocturno Culto imitations.

The catchy and uplifting DISSECTION-esque, yet not too obvious chord patterns of "The Kings of Malice Return to their Rightful Place" make that track an absolute highlight, like a blasting occult punk metal hybrid without any excess happiness. Not all of the tracks are quite as strong though, because in many cases it's an imitation of old Norwegian black metal riff theory straight from the sick minds of Snorre Ruch and Euronymous in a way we have heard thousands of times. When performed with such a rigorous and personal no-nonsense attitude, it does not make it any less effective though.

- Devamitra

OFFICIAL SITE: www.cultofdagon.com

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