In no uncertain terms the song "Manannan" is unparallelled in its ferocity and execution. It eptiomizes the Myght of the Absu klan more than any other song in my mind. It is a vast paen to He who controls tides and casts the winds through the raven-picked fields of battles spent. Its application in starkly modernistic forms is to blast this track in my car at soul-cauterizing volume, and driving at decidedly unsafe speeds all the while howling "I AM.... MANANNAN!! AND FEAR THE SKY SHALL FALLLLLLL!!! (hear the thunder roll!!)" (x5) full blast at the windshield. "Stone of Destiny" is another gear stripping tire-screecher despite its more measured tempo- the power of the Dio-fied(lovely pun!) vocals is impressive and throat-paining to emulate and I am always reminded of the legendary show at the San Antonio Sunken Gardens when Dio performed "Rainbow in the Dark" as an electrical storm was building... as he sang "When there's LIIIIGHTENING...." an errant bolt struck the horned skull prop at the top of the stage. True story! The RPMs on my dash board bid a feeble attempt at emulating the skull-crushing 270-315 BPMs contained on this, the Cythraul Klans Scrutiny! HA! If only I could be so lucky! It would mean I was piloting an F-16 Tomcat complete with sparrow missiles! If I may be so bold or mayhap misspoken, this album is the most logical progression past Slayer's "Reign in Blood" in relentless pacing and fever pitch musical heroics by all involved, save for not presenting a questionable photo of the Klan drawing and quartering a six-pack as the group shot (this ultimately leads to "Diablous in Musica"! beware!!!!) The car's engine brays as fifth gear is acheived in accordance with "A Shield With an Iron Face". I grit my teeth and my face is as iron as well. Damn the 18-wheelers in the left lane! The death of man is never going to die, you amphetamine-blown fuck!!! I careen to the center position and blaze by feather-footed motorists with cruel mathematical percussion and Highland Tyrant Guitars spurring my escape. We are Texan metallers! Despair! And either speed up or get out of my lane!!! I flash my brights and lean on the horn as a sub-mortal in a Dodge Neon adorned with a "Jesus fish" runs interception and hinders my bid for pole position. The intro of "From Ancient Times" strikes and creates mental images of filtering via ham radio... "come in, blazing metal masterpiece... I am receiving you, over!" Then KERRANNG!(??) the Ancient Times live here and now and are thusly thermonuclear! I have never heard a song begin at its climax and then maintain said tone for its duration. By this point in the excursion all gears are stripped, the brakes have failed and the steering wheel has detached into my hands.... the car shimmies on its bearings for a moment then flips as the wheels laterally twist underneath the chasis and the car goes pinwheeling end over end down the road as "The Cognate House...." launches and blares (random setting on the 12 CD changer is kult!)... safety glass sprays my face and hair like water with the screech and wail of metal on madacam at high velocity, yet no match for the decible holocaust that is "Tara"!!! Neighboring cars make panicked evasive manouvers into one another as the wheeling, twisted, impact reinforced frame hurtles forth- I am one with steel, machine, Absu klan metal assault and battered, battered flesh screaming in unison like a black juggernaut dervish! Finally, "Tara (Recapitulation)" steps forth somberly as the once vehicle now hurlant clatters to a halt and I hang inverted and miraculously alive still strapped to my seat. Sirens blare in the distance and I smile... I survived "Tara" and its fury. Hail fucking metal.

© 2000 w.s. diabolus