Well this stood out as looking a bit on the different side. Based both in New York and Europe this multi-national cast list comprises of a group clad in ecclesiastical costumes and looking more than a little pious. However, once you tie things together, rest assured nuns will be blushing and turning red in the face and clerics would be racing to excommunicate them. We have a five octave soprano singer as vocalist, originally from Switzerland and apparently trained in various musical styles. Andromeda Anarchia is a fitting name as she certainly adds a rebellious nature to things here with her rafter hitting gymnastics and vicious snarls. Notably among the musicians joining her is Imperial Triumphant guitarist Zachary Ezrin who I guess is also responsible for occasional backing rasps along with a drummer more versed in death metal from bands such as Coffin Sore. Add this together with themes of BDSM and verse sung in German and we have a band who I reckon would be a perfect match at turning heads supporting Rammstein on stadium tours even if they sound nothing like them.
Musically this is blackened metal which is delivered at a whiplashing pace (literally as a whip is endorsed as flagellating accessory on opener ‘Anno Domina’) along with occasional baroque interludes including of all things a harpsichord solo. Yeah like I said a bit different. Once I had dispensed of the ridiculous 2800-word essay on the band provided by the label and got my own thoughts together, what things boil down to is an album that you are going to either really enjoy or absolutely loathe. Having released one previous album ‘Die Lederpredigt’ in 2020 via Gilead Media, it’s easy to see why Century Media snapped this lot up. Everyone loves a bit of a gimmick after all but fortunately if one is not averse to the singing style and has a somewhat irreverent sense of humour Folterkammer (which translates to Torture Chamber) have the scope to reel listeners into their giddy web.
Highly competent instrumentally, the somewhat hysterical chops here are going to appeal to fans of bands as diverse as Fleshgod Apocalypse to Master Boot Record and the wilder end of the Euro market like Army Of Lovers. If the show were still around, there is no doubt Antoine de Caunes and Jean-Paul Gaultier would have had the band as guests on Eurotrash and screened the video for Leck Mich (Lick Me) alongside Falco rocking up Amadeus and a segment on the S&M films of Jess Franco. You simply cannot help grinning once translating titles to the likes of ‘Submission’ and ‘Kiss My Feet’ and whilst some may find the whole album as nothing short of musical masochism, if not very careful it will have you consenting to its delicious punishments and begging for more. Obviously mentioning black metal stylistically is going to have the kvltists protesting but if they turn attention to ‘Algolagnia’ (look it up) with its scabrous and fetid snarling and ice-cold riffs it’s pretty much as legitimate as bands like Hulder and Asagraum.
The ‘Female Power’ of the album is (so I am told) as addictive as a visit to a dominatrix and a damn good bottom spanking. Once you are put through a sound thrashing some balm is soothingly rubbed on the red welts via a cover song and what a perfect choice. Joining an illustrious set of artists such as The Creatures, Christian Death, Beck, Smashing Pumpkins and Krieg it can only be Venus In Furs and if it doesn’t result in you donning shiny boots, basque and suspenders well, ahem I think I best leave this review here….
(8/10 Pete Woods)
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