Being a reviewer is often times somewhat masochistic, we’ll put ourselves in positions that will likely cause us audible horror. The band who we speak of today, Cultus Profano are somewhere in the middle of that for me. Their debut from 2018 Sacramentum Obscurus showed me strong Black Metal songwriting but no additional push, I gave it 5/10 (ouch). So, let’s hope that the latest forbidden fruit from the Blackened tree can prove more enjoyable.
For those of you who don’t know Cultus Profano they’re a Californian Black Metal duo signed to Debemur Morti Productions. They formed in 2016 and in 2018 gave us their aforementioned debut. The band have some kudos in their line up too as drummer/ vocalist Advorsus is also a member of cult Death Metal titans Sadistic Intent. I was eager to hear what the band had to offer with their new record Accursed Possession, here’s what I found out.
Opening with the funerary chimes of Cursed In Sin, Op. 25 the band seek to create a level of haunting ambience, which actually pays off pretty well. In come the crisp Black Metal guitars as well as some pretty striking drumming. Vocals are relatively standard Black Metal fair with echoing rasps, but that’s fine, the whole package works. Devoted To The Black Horns, Op. 16 sees the band tackle a nine minute track, in fact numerous songs on this album go above six minutes, it’s a change that really works for me. It’s exactly what the first record was lacking, it gives room for huge sonic walls of Black Metal filth and minimal but none the less present progression.
Again, with the longer songs comes Towards The Temple Of Darkened Fate, Op. 19. Special mentions to drummer Advorsus here, a really top-notch performance indeed. This could easily be one of the best tracks on the album as it shows a good deal of variation, moving from hypnotic passages to more standard barbaric Black Metal. Again, we see a similar style projected in Within A Coven Of Shadows, Op. 21, it’s a Black Metal sound that is very purist and ‘trve’ but one that I can also see being enjoyed by those less well informed with the genre. In fact, these more enveloping Cultus tracks have given me a new appreciation for the band. I now see their vision, the vile misery stricken riffs of Tenebris Venit, Op. 23 only go to solidify my admiration for their work further. Then in one last blaze comes Crown Of Hellfire, Op. 11, a befitting ending and very traditional. It’s full of some cracking guitar work, a sure fire sign that the band have truly elevated themselves.
Accursed Possession is proof that you should never cast a band aside, always give new material a chance. I took a risk by choosing to review this record and I’m really glad I did. This is the Cultus Profano I was looking for from the start. If you’re a fan of Black Metal then this is sure to be a winner, and if you liked the first album then you’re in for a real treat because this is leagues above that. Open the gates of damnation and get some of this vile filth in your ears now!
(8/10 George Caley)
Leave a Reply