CoC : Satanic Slaughter - Satanic Slaughter : Review

Satanic Slaughter - _Satanic Slaughter_
(Necropolis/Sepulture, 1996)
by: Gino Filicetti (6 out of 10)

This album starts off on a very bad foot. In the beginning, all that is heard on this not only bio-less, but SLEEVE-less CD is some shitty tin can drums, annoying, screeching vox and the all too typical black metal guitar riffage played way too fast. Usually, when CDs give me a bad impression on the first song, it's next to impossible to shake that impression. However for once, I actually grew to like this album with only one listen. Drumming improves greatly as the album progresses and the guitar seems to learn more variety as well. To my amazement, there are an abundance of leads on this release, as well as a shocking OFF BEAT drum "riff" in "Forever I Burn". It was just one shock after another with this album but one major glitch I did not approve of was the lead off riff of "Into The Catacombs", which seemed to be a direct lift from Slayer's less than classic "Hardening Of The Arteries". Some of my favorite tracks include, "Breath of the Serpent That Rules the Cold World" (nice title, eh?). This song starts off with a really catchy, mid-tempo riff, cool drumming, and even includes synth sections. "I'll Await My Lord" is also one for the "best of" books. It combines weird vocal effects with, believe it or not, NON black metal riffage. Another notable mention is "Divine Exorcism", which is a haunting ambient number, another surprise that Satanic Slaughter aren't afraid of throwing at their listeners. I was ready to give this one a 2 out of 10, but I can't deny that it actually kept me awake and away from the "next track" button, and that on its own, is a feat in itself.

(article published 10/5/1996)

ALBUMS
7/14/1997	D Schinzel	6	Satanic Slaughter - Land of the Unholy Souls