Temple of Baal Traitors to Mankind
Adipocere Records - FPG32 2005
By Alex York
The first wave of black metal has well and truly passed and yet many years on and there are still hoards of dedicated old-school BM bands holding their torches high up in honour of those they look up (and back) to. And that's no bad thing. With strong, punky, thrash influences reminiscent of early Darkthrone and, to a certain degree Venom, Temple of Baal have stepped their black metal assault up a few notches from their previous (and unremarkable) efforts, resulting in a captivating release that demands attention.
Their thrash influence will please many but it's not a style I find particularly convincing in this case, primarily due to the overly repetitive riffs, which, while powerful and atmospheric for the most part, do loose impact after a while (as do the vocals, incidentally). Some varied and creative drumming (great cymbal-work) and fantastic solos break an otherwise monotonous record into manageable chunks, forming a well-rounded release that will please those with simpler tastes and a penchant for old-school riff-heavy BM.
Official Temple of Baal Website
Official Adipocere Records Website
Adipocere Records - FPG32 2005
By Alex York
The first wave of black metal has well and truly passed and yet many years on and there are still hoards of dedicated old-school BM bands holding their torches high up in honour of those they look up (and back) to. And that's no bad thing. With strong, punky, thrash influences reminiscent of early Darkthrone and, to a certain degree Venom, Temple of Baal have stepped their black metal assault up a few notches from their previous (and unremarkable) efforts, resulting in a captivating release that demands attention.
Their thrash influence will please many but it's not a style I find particularly convincing in this case, primarily due to the overly repetitive riffs, which, while powerful and atmospheric for the most part, do loose impact after a while (as do the vocals, incidentally). Some varied and creative drumming (great cymbal-work) and fantastic solos break an otherwise monotonous record into manageable chunks, forming a well-rounded release that will please those with simpler tastes and a penchant for old-school riff-heavy BM.
Official Temple of Baal Website
Official Adipocere Records Website
