Artist: Matru-zebu
Country: Finland
Label: Ancien Culte
Formats: Demo tape
Year: 2025
Ancien Culte presents the debut demo tape of Matru-Zebu, what appears to be a new band from Finland. Spawned in the illustrious Elemental Cavern in Finland, the entities behind the band are kept secret. But those that are familiar with the recordings birthed in this studio will have a strong suspicion about who’s involved. And the influences that were channelled into the creation of ‘Blood Cries with Sorrow’ should make that even more obvious.
With the five tracks on ‘Blood Cries with Sorrow’ Matru-Zebu manifests itself as Black Metal that is very clearly inspired by the first wave of the genre: Ritualistic and minimalistic in nature, with background keyboards to add an entrancing and ominous atmosphere. Those that adore the idea of a listening session containing the first records of Samael, Bestial Summoning, early Necromantia and Varathron, Beherit, Barathrum and later acts such as Kêres, Ride for Revenge, Frozen Graves, Moenen of Xezbeth and Forbidden Temple will greet this material with a depraved smile.
The bass-heavy sound of ’Storm the Gates of Eden’, with its repetitive riffs, chanting background choirs and croaking vocals tick all the right boxes. In the subsequent ‘Ritual Feast’ the pace is considerably higher, with a somewhat contrarian underground melody and rising clean chants adding to a dark and bewitching atmosphere. In particular the hoarse vocal delivery combined with the chants add a sense of hypnotizing catchiness to the track. Likewise, ‘Fiery Countenance‘ and ‘Defiled Sanctuaries‘ contain a sense of groove that is typical for the first wave sound, as well as the Finnish bands that were inspired by it such as Barathrum, Ride for Revenge and Kêres. It’s particularly here that the true nature of the members behind Matru-Zebu seems to be revealed. Closing track ‘Wings over Tartarus’ is arguably the best the band has to offer. Levitating between typical early Samael and the old Greek sound and that Finnish Black Metal flair, the song ranges from more atmospheric to downright blistering sections. It’s the creativity within the minimalistic formula, in particular coming from the drums, that is striking here and showcases the obvious songwriting talents of the band.
‘Blood Cries with Sorrow’ is a simply excellent demo. Based on the foundations of first wave Black Metal and with that typical Finnish touch, the ritualistic atmosphere and minimalistic approach just hits that regressive nail right on the head. These 100 demo tapes will be gone in a heartbeat I’m sure.
