The first thing that should be mentioned about this release is the great packaging. The CD cover is in itself covered by a photo of what would be Mary holding the baby jesus. When you take this covering off, you find a picture of the baby cut to pieces and lying on a plate, with a knife stuck in it's side. It gets better though!! Besides the band photos of these Satanic and old-school metal heads covered in blood, we also get a new interpretation of the famous "The Last Supper" painting. This time around, the jews are feasting on human carcasses, as the frontal area of the table is a pool of blood and the table itself is covered in carcasses. Mr.jesus looks quite happy as his face is covered in blood, human flesh dripping down his face. Evil!!! Fuck pictures of forests and whatnot! When bands are this brutal, they deserve to be respected!

To add to the great packaging though, is an impressive CD of violent and punishing black/death metal. With a heavy Blasphemy influence, mixed with early 90s modern death metal, and the minor usage of modern black/grind, this CD is great from start to finish. The start of the CD, a quick and loud explosion, moving into a huge blast beat, nicely sums up what one can expect. Huge riffs, a dirty and appealing production, super violent drumming, and brutal vocals are what Belphegor are all about. Track 3, "Implament Without Mercy" for example makes example of some brief synth work, which works itself into some punishing grinding death metal, with sick black metal screams and lower grunts. This destroys!!

I think it's about time I mixed up the bands second album, since if they've improved, then they've probably become a force to be reckoned with. Try this CD out, it's a worthy slab of brutal black/death metal, in a style that can be appreciated by both sides of the spectrum.

© 1997 brand