(written by Islander)
The Greek black metal band Ceremonial Worship now find themselves in the tenth year of their existence. In that time they’ve released a pair of EPs, a split, and two albums — with a third one slated for international release by the Eternal Death label on July 31st.
This new album, Between Sleep and Death, is the work of a new lineup (though with founder High Priest C.W. still in the lead), and it has drawn comparisons to both classic Hellenic black metal (the legacy of Rotting Christ, Varathron, Necromantia) and “second wave” bands such as Kawir, Legion of Doom, Nocternity, and even mid-period Nightfall.
What we have for you today is the premiere of the second advance track off the new album, a truly ravishing song called “Pantheon of Suffering“.
“Pantheon of Suffering” is a perfect name for this song. It is an immense and immensely traumatizing experience, near-overwhelming in both its musical intensity and its catastrophically anguished emotional state.
Three melodically connected riffs stand high at the pinnacle of this wretched pantheon. They’re delivered with ruthlessly scouring abrasion and tremolo-picked speed, but the melody flows slowly (albeit spiked with the flickering of a second guitar). The first two blaze and blister up in the sonic stratosphere. As the chords majestically rise and fall, they channel hopelessness and painful despair. The third one descends and seems to grievously moan.
Far below that wrenching pantheon is another factor that makes the song so immensely devastating — an equally fast-picked bass performance that’s so deep and so tremendously heavy that it feels like a non-stop earthquake that’s going to wreck anything standing on the surface.
Two other factors must also be mentioned: While the riffing and the bass lines are exceedingly dense and senses-consuming, the drumming adds notable dynamism and enhanced intensity to the experience. It moves from solemn and steady beats to furious blasting, metronomic hammering, militaristic tattoos, and more.
And finally, just when the drums dial up the intensity by shifting into furious blast-beats, the vocals arrive, screaming out on the red edge of torment and rage, and never relenting in their excruciating intensity.
Ceremonial Worship made a wise decision to end the song after 3 1/2 minutes. It’s long enough to sink itself into a listener’s memory but if it had gone longer it might have undermined our “what the hell just happened to me!” reactions.
CEREMONIAL WORSHIP ALBUM LINE-UP:
High Priest C.W. – guitars
Petros P. – bass
George K. – drums
The Whisperer of Night – vocals
Eternal Death will released the album on CD and digital formats. For more info, check the links below — and also listen to the album’s first single, “Hate Spells“.
PRE-ORDER:
https://eternaldeath.bandcamp.com/album/between-sleep-and-death
CEREMONIAL WORSHIP:
https://ceremonialworship.bandcamp.com/album/esoteron-2
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