Let’s get a couple of things out of the way, one obvious and another maybe not so obvious: Bastardizing the Purity is bestial black metal that’s unforgiving and unrepentant, and it will not appeal to great swaths of listeners, but rather will cut them down like wheat before the scythe. That’s the obvious point (and a point that could be made about everything we premiere — nothing will appeal to everyone, though admittedly the fanbase for this album is a much narrower cadre of adherents than usual). If it doesn’t appeal to you, that doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with you, but nor does it necessarily mean that there’s something wrong with the music of Blasphamagoatachrist (even though they do often sound psychotically barbaric). Different music serves different needs.

The less obvious point, or at least one less obvious to people who just have no taste for this kind of rampaging sonic warfare, is that it isn’t all alike. There are gradations of quality, just as there are for any other sub-genre of metal, not noticeable to people who want nothing to do with it but discernible to those whose needs this feeds. The rest of this introductory review is for the latter group of people. Everyone else can politely show themselves out, though you’ll be welcome to come back another day.

And by the way, if you’re perplexed by the band’s name, ask yourself this question: If you were members of Blasphemy, Goatpenis, and Antichrist, and you decided to join forces, what else would you call your collective endeavor? Continue reading »