The internet is for porn, right? Time to step into the 21st century, friends; the World Wide Web is now an eclectic array of cats, cat gifs, funny cat videos AND porn (without cats). Oh, and it’s also seen the formation of some pretty amazing bands – Culted being just one of those. Three quarters of the band currently reside in Manitoba, Canada and have never met vocalist Daniel Jansson who lives almost 4,000 miles away in Sweden. This entire album was put together via file sharing and email correspondence, which probably explains the cold and detached feeling emanated from every track.
Opener, ‘Brooding Hex’ is a stonking 19 minutes long, using this time to create bleak and desolate landscapes that breach the far reaches of the very depths of depravity and beyond. Paying homage to the greatest sultans of sadness such as Godflesh, Swans and Neurosis, their music is clearly influenced by all three of these acts and this can be heard in every riff – you can practically hear the tar dripping from the guitar strings.
‘Illuminati’ picks up the pace a little and marches forth on an atmosphere of dusty stoner rock, yet never quite steps out of the shadows, keeping the dark and miserable feeling ever present with Jansson’s heavily produced, evil sounding vocals. Whether or not these guys are a mere flash in the pan, or in it for the long haul remains to be seen; there is no doubt that they have worked out a formula for using ambience and desolation to their advantage and it’s a welcome glide into angst-ridden self-hatred. However, it is one that you certainly have to be in the mood for; approach with caution.
(7/10 Angela Davey)
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