Bit late turning this in, but it was actually released mid 2023 it seems but this is the CD version so, hey, we’re here. Debut album, but rising out of (via a simply name change Black Ejaculate whose ‘Cum soaked Messiah’ had actually crossed/stained my path. Anway, what we have here is some staunchly anti-Christian, Satanic black metal it looks like.

Hit that play.

‘Black Ejaculate’ shoots out (sorry, not sorry) with a sermon from Exodus Ch4. A loose, deep bass line throbs, doomy and a little punk maybe as we explore foreskins. The riff is slow, nicely raw, the vocals spoken, intoned somewhat and then we drop into raw, primitive black metal. It has that insistent, determined focus and drive, hypnotic rather than repetitive and a nice nasty opener. ‘Deflowering Jerusalem’ adds, for me, a pinch of brutal death metal to the styling of the riff but not too much. Just a flavour. It really is raw as Hell and filthy as you like. ‘Drowned Flock’ again is so similar in style and sound. Primitive, focused and direct.

The production here, despite keeping their primordial sound uppermost, is actually pretty good for this style. The drums don’t overpower or get lost, the vocals have a nice balance in the mix and the raw edged riffing is captured well. Pretty spot on really.

The title track once more initially dips into an ominous, malignant and doomy sound before the inevitable acceleration. It definitely sits easily alongside the ‘classic’ USBM sound but it also has the raw obsession with the repetitive riff and guitar run sound (not a criticism) which just creates this enveloping feeling of one determined goal.

‘The Soiled Crucifix’ interrupts this with an eerie short instrumental which is shockingly delicate in approach, but works very well to create a sense of atmosphere before the epic eight minutes of ‘Broken Staff Of The Shepherd’ grinds into view. Now I have to say I’m not sure it merits the length; too many repetitive runs and a loosening of their grip on my ears for me. But ‘Ziziphus Paliurus’ injects a much needed shorter bit of pace and attack. ‘A Foul Stench Linger At Peor’ closes in pretty much a similar way.

It’s a difficult album to review in a way. I mean this just reeks of USBM, but the guitar runs over the riffs So bear that in mind. However Black Eucharist have, despite my moaning, produced actually a fine debut; aware, determined and very well put together. Primitive yes, and all the better for it, driven. A bit samey for me maybe but they also show that they know atmosphere when needed. Maybe a little more variation in pace? Maybe a loosening back down into a more feral aspect or rising up into a sharper sound? Who knows. But as foundations go this is spot on as whatever path they chose is built of solid black blasphemy.

Pretty cool.

(7/10 Gizmo)

https://www.facebook.com/BlackEucharist

https://godzovwarproductions.bandcamp.com/album/inn-of-the-vaticide