ALBUM REVIEW: Archgoat – The Luciferian Crown

Here I review yet another huge release! This time Black-Death Metal heavyweights ARCHGOAT with their latest horrific endeavour!

01. Intrantation opens the release with some horrific ambience, growls and bell chimes. This really sets a terrific atmosphere while being very short, it certainly wields the power to put you at unease.
02. Jesus Christ Father of Lies comes right up and hits you in the face with insane tempos, killer drums, ruthless guitar and bass and finally of course vocals akin to a demon. The pummelling tornado of violence and chaos is actually not entirely relentless as the tempo eases off for a pretty tasteful guitar solo, but then we are reintroduced to the full throttle Archgoat attack. The back and forth effect of the song works really well and is probably some of the most intelligently written Archgoat material even including some symphonic elements but don’t let that fool you, the band are just as dark and brutal as ever.
03. Jezebels Black Mass Orgy tears right into tremolo picked anarchy, blasting drums, morbid vocals and a much more traditional Archgoat feel. The absolutely vitriolic assault of the track is a prime example of why they are the kings of “War Metal” as this is just as harrowing and violent as the sounds of gunfire and screams. The brutal grunts over low-fi Black Metal instrumentals works beautifully and there are even some whammy infused, highly distorted leads. The sampling is damn eerie and really adds to the hideous atmosphere of the track. Amazing work!
04. Messiah of Pigs begins with some downright unsettling samples of pigs squealing, they are honestly horrific. The blackened death insanity follows immediately without warning. With bombastic and primal guitar/bass work assaulting from all angles, insane blast beats and disemboweled vocals grunting this is a truly heavy piece. A morbid assault on the senses with compellingly tight production for Archgoat. Killer track, one I have played a hell of a lot in the weeks leading up to the release. The whole instrumental section is absolutely hammered out for the guttural maniacal vocals to just really work perfectly with creating something very unsettling indeed.
05. Darkness has Returned forces itself down your throat with melodic but seriously intense riffing, the Blackened Death Metal assault taking a more upbeat approach to violate the ears. The vibe of the song would be more traditional Norwegian Black Metal if it wasn’t for the uniquely growled vocals taking the piece into entirely new and original territory, but that is a balance Archgoat have been wonderfully playing with for many years now. The drums absolutely batter and hammer at you while the guitars just create this sonic wall that really strengthens things up, with raw mixing that fits the music perfectly and a gruesome vibe this is some absolutely killer material!
06. Sorcery and Doom begins with some pretty tranquil woodland sampling, something I did not expect at all, but with the band being who they are I could tell there was a well placed sense of foreboding, especially when the occasional chant came around. The song fires itself into the speakers without any sense of warning, just laying waste to any sense of peace or tranquility the introduction had formed, they have clearly thought a lot about new ways to catch out an already calloused and worn in fan base who would need new things to surprise them, Archgoat deliver. Really awesome riffs on this track, some of the nastiest Extreme Metal I have heard in a while with some Inquisition like grooves to some of the riffs (an element I think is wonderfully used). This and “Messiah Of Pigs” are so far my favourite tracks but there is still time yet for another to be even greater!
07. Star of Darkness and Abyss falls into play with a more drawn out doomy feel to it and some absolutely insane drum work. Shortly after the hammering riffs and blasts kick us into oblivion once more. Surely this is some of the most intense stuff I have heard for a long time, with no regard for melody, just pure assault and chaos being violently launched at us, the only avail being the occasional synth line. Now this may sound negative to many, and to many it would be, but for those who appreciate these more ferocious arts it is truly something wonderful to behold. The funeral march like piece of music following on from such a furious beginning is completely unexpected and exciting to listen to and I am thoroughly impressed at Archgoat for retaining their elements and essence while finding new ways to push their music to new heights and extremities. Brilliant work on this with a killer mixture of slower tempo marches and full on ripping attack!
08. The Obsidian Flame (From My Depths) comes into fruition with slower tempo guitar and bass work setting a more bleak vibe. The marching groove of the song is really catchy and certainly a progression in the bands usually very primate approach to things. The atmosphere is completely apocalyptic and hellish, something Archgoat have perfected over the years. The swinish edge on the vocals works beautifully (or maybe hideously would be more fitting) with the gruesome instrumentals, the drum fills really packing a punch between drawn out and menacing guitar riffs. There are even some touches and flourishes of psychedelia to the song that were certainly an unexpected twist! Another wonderful piece by the masters of extremity.
09. The Luciferian Crown (Venom Of God) blasts us into depraved and hideous music once more, the truly filthy sounds of Archgoat tearing away at your soul with their blisteringly heavy Black Metal tinged vitriolic Death Metal assault. The hammering and assaulting instrumentals topped with grunted vocals really do feel more like a personal attack than anything else, so much raw energy can be found within this music, while primal it is definitely excellent. This type of track while using some arguably atmospheric and slower section but still packing in the “War Metal” vibe show that Archgoat certainly are very capable as musicians and will always be able to find new ways to impress fans of the noise attacks. Wonderfully done track!
10. I Am Lucifer’s Temple opens with some nicely executed guitar work and killer drums, a built up feel and a more Black n Roll feel to it, something once more that hasn’t been overused, the band keeping each song fresh and not just recycling things. Having said that the flow of the album is pretty tight with it not feeling disjointed really in any parts. The groove of the song has a menacing crawl to it while actually being (at least for such an extreme band) quite pleasant with some almost folky or depressive touches to it. The track reveals itself to be this huge epic battle of instrumental warfare with some beautiful bass lines and a ritualistic feeling present throughout. Perfect closing piece!

The return of ARCHGOAT is something we all knew would be hellish and incredibly brutal. We were right. Another phenomenal release to add to the Blackened Death Metal masters already impressive discography! Approach with caution if you are not already aware of this bands full-on assault, certainly not for fans of more mainstream Extreme Metal, but perfect for those of us who revel in chaotic musical attacks! -9/10