Artist: Ceremonial Incantations
Country: USA
Label: Northmoon Zephyr Productions / Sin For Belial
Formats: Cassette Tape / CD
Year: 2025
Although ‘Messengers Ov Sathanas’ is already the third full-length offering from Ceremonial Incantations, you don’t have to feel very ashamed if you haven’t heard anything from them before. All previously released material of this American duo has been backed up by rather small and obscure labels and although that doesn’t necessarily say anything in itself, the distribution might be a bit of a problem, especially at our European continent. But with this third album, things might change for the better: the CD version is released by Northmoon Zephyr Productions run by one of the lads behind Witchcraft from Finland and if I’m well informed, the vinyl edition will eventually be released by Down With The Most High.
The involvement of Northmoon Zephyr is also seen in the new logo for the band, which is evidently drawn by Goatprayer of the label/Witchcraft. And, frankly, his engagement in itself is already a sign for great things to come. ‘Messenger Ov Sathanas’ is a record that builds on the fundamentals of its predecessors, but clearly feels much more balanced and consequently the occult Black Metal comes across way more convincing. The slightly doomy and overall very primitive sort of Black Metal harkens back to the late 80’s, conveying a very strong First Wave atmosphere that resembles that of early Mystifier, Varathron, Barathrum, Impurity and the likes.
Opposed to much the first bands of the Second Wave, this by far isn’t sounding sharp or icy, instead it has that almost warm and gloomy ambiance of those great bands that helped shape the Black Metal scenes in other countries than Norway. The emphasis on the slow pounding drums, heavier guitars and primitive growls take you right back to the best of Impurity and their other Brazilian peers. Although there is no cover track on this latest offering, the previous album featured a Nebiros cover, which is probably more telling than anything else.
Besides the two European labels involved, the Americans can still be happy with the tape edition of this great album that was released by the rather new Sin For Belial label; keep an eye on them as well for there is more good stuff coming up.
