Back around 1998 I reviewed the debut album from this band. It was a rather interesting album entitled Lost Chronicles of the War in Heaven.” For the time, they displayed a pretty typical style of black metal but a touch more bassludge and a slight doom influence permeated the album and made it stand out. Over the years the band has fought through lineup changes, labels dropping the ball, and even a breakup for a time.
The band is back and now presents a new album via Negativity Records entitled “Treatise on the Abyss.” Catholicon was formed on April 9th 1994, by Blasphyre and Troy Thomas, who met while protesting the evangelist Bob Larson at Comite Baptist Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. In mid 1994, the debut demo, entitled “Children of the Lost Generation” was released and quickly spread throughout the underground. The aformentioned “Lost Chronicle…” was released a few years later.
Fast forward ten years and it brings us to the latest album “Treatise on the Abyss.” 13 tracks of Black Metal with a healthy dose of Death Metal, and even Grind in the mix to make it a blistering offering of the head spinning variety. The first thing that stands out on this disc is the brutal, bass heavy production. Thick slabs of riffs and snare pierce your ears while the everchanging tempos and structures keep you off balance…never sure where these deranged satanic heathens will take you next. From dirge marches to grindcorelike blasting, its all here.
The biggest change/improvement this band has made over the years is the vocal performance of I.N.R.I. His strong command of the underground art is all over the place. From piercing shrieks of nekrofukk, LOW gurglevomit belches, and even pig-squeals more associated with goregrind, this crazy person touches on all those styles quite solidly and really keeps the songs exciting. Also of note is the undercurrent of synths that ride beneath the surface for much of the album. They never overpower though, and create a nice atmosphere much like that of an evil forest lurking in the distance…in the winter.
Lyric-wise, every song dissects and lays on the table the fantasies/beliefs of christianity and organized religion in general. Very very interesting and thought provoking to say the least as you read through the 16 page booklet. I was noticing also that a wooden case version of this album is available. That would be neat, but the label just sent me the regular jewel case version. You cheap bastards!
myspace.com/catholicon
fuckyourgod.com
negativityrecords.com
Read all of Shane’s Music Reviews in our Music section.
