Are you a fan of doom, but prefer the near operatic scope of Candlemass than the fist in your face snarl of Wino? Not fond of tales of depression, murder, and substance abuse, but happy to listen to songs with more than a hint of the biblical? Well gentle reader, Crypt Sermon with ‘Out of the Garden’ may well be for you.
Following on from their 2013 demo, Philadelphia’s own Crypt Sermon have released their full length album, via Dark Descent Records, and despite not having a particularly long history, the band certainly sound like they’ve been honing their craft for years with forty five minutes of immaculately executed metal that owes far more to Iced Earth than Black Sabbath in texture. ‘Temple Doors’ kicks off with some monastic chanting and horns that could have come from the soundtrack of Conan (the old Arnie movie, not the modern sludge masters) before a note perfect twin guitar riff marches forth, heralding the clean sustained vocals telling a tale that sounds like it is more than a little inspired by the New Testament. Now, before you go slagging them off, I don’t know if this is a Christian metal band, and don’t frankly care; I have not the slightest problem listening to metal loaded with mythology and magic, be it Cthuloid, Abrahamic, or Melnibonean, it makes little difference to me, myths are myths.
‘Heavy Riders’ follows with a heavier riff, and there is a strong hint of Black Sabbath to the sound, albeit not the “classic” line up, but rather from the rockier ‘Headless Cross’ and ‘Tyr’ period; indeed, Crypt Sermon’s Brooks Wilson compares most favourably with Tony Martin for his vocal style, a style that matches the music well. ‘Byzantium’ continues the band’s apparent fascination with religious history, that city once being the capital of the Holy Roman Empire, before years of conflict and conquering made it Constantinople then Istanbul, but as the song says, that’s nobody’s business but the Turks! ‘Will of the Ancient Call’ continues the mid paced metal metal odyssey, and on this track the drums are the real star, a positive cannonade of battered cymbals equalling the twin guitar riffs ounce for ounce in power, making their presence felt without being too intrusive; after playing this live, I’d fully expect drummer Enrique Sagarnaga to stand up and take a bow.
The album has only seven tracks, allowing each to develop and grow, and closes with the titular ‘Out of the Garden’ and there are more hints of Sabbath in the Dio like vocals; I challenge anyone to listen to Wilson’s delivery of “fire”, or rather “fiyah!” and not be reminded of the late great Ronnie James. Indeed, this tale of expulsion from Eden is in many ways a distillation of the musical influences of the band, equal parts Candlemass and Iced Earth with a good splash of Merciful Fate thrown into the mix; solid, fist pumping metal with a spiked wrist band, but not too spiky, and no corpse paint!
(7/10 Spenny)
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