Just what exactly is a mongrel’s cross anyway? And why is it missing an apostrophe in this case? Who cares. Mongrels Cross from Australia sure as hell don’t, and anyway, that’s beside the point. The point is that of a rust-riddled black-death shank stabbing viciously, opening flesh maniacally, then gnashing haphazardly through viscous internal tissue. Oh, so that’s what a Mongrels Cross is.

The Sins Of Aquarius is the first full-length release from these Mongrels, their second offering through Hells Headbangers. High levels of filth and evil radiate from it in appropriate Hells Headbangers fashion. Its place in the genre shuffle falls within some meshing of black, death and thrash. The members of Mongrels Cross boast names such as Goat Euryn and Necros Craigos; band photos depict dudes who are versed in the rituals of binge drinking, arm-spike wrestling and drunken howling at themidnightmoon.

Essentially, the seven tracks of The Sins Of Aquarius are nasty, whiskey-soaked hymns to Satan. There is a raw quality present within that slices through both black and thrash fundamentals thoroughly, comprised of wicked riffs and guttural growls of the most unholy degree, among other such niceties. It took a few listens for the full effect to sink in, but once anchored, my ears were opened (forcibly) like the tender petals of a young virgin. Yes, that’s disgusting and inappropriate, but so is a lot of other shit in this world.

Tracks of note are “Rabid Inception,” which varies between quick ‘n’ nasty blackened filth to thrash ‘n’ roll. “Hunters of the Born Again” is quite possibly the best track on the album, featuring a killer BM riff section about a minute in which then descends into utterly evil Satanic thrash chaos before doomin’ down a bit at the end. The next track, “Indulge theTemple,” kicks the pace back up and rides that blackened thrash wave out into “Revelations Transpire,” which is a bit slower than the rest but no less kick-ass. The exceptionally evil and at times death-groovy “When the Dragon Gives Birth” closes things out.

There is no good summary to add here. Mongrels Cross put forth a pretty nasty offering to the extreme metal world with The Sins Of Aquarius. It’s not exactly the most original (or sometimes even memorable) black-deathrash record out there, but it doesn’t need to be. It’s fast, it’s dirty, and it works. Best listened to with ears; even better with beers.

(6.5/10 Jodi Michael)

www.hellsheadbangers.com/mongrelscross