EP REVIEW: Archgoat – All Christianity Ends

Finlands Blackened Death Metal legends ARCHGOAT should need no introduction, they recently unleashed their superb 5th album and are already back for more with a new EP. Set for release via Debemur Morti Production on April 22nd.

A classically Archgoat introduction starts us off with disquiet and ambience, giving us that brooding and unwelcoming feeling that is very familiar. A raw storm of bludgeoning drums and gravelly riffs come out of nowhere with a monstrous cacophony of sonic hellfire, noisy and chaotic. “Ascension Towards The Promethean Fire” is a well-chosen name for this opening assault which gives us a wide array of hideous soundscapes before going straight for the jugular on “Crown Cloaked With Death”. The stomping blasphemy meets those visceral snarling vocals and delivers pure destruction, the old way. Archgoat are a band whose lengthy existence has been consistent and yet evolved (on their terms) while retaining their core elements. This clearly revisits the old days of the bands earlier works in its far less refined state which is sublime in its own right. While the new album showed some more diversity in their sound, this is stripped back to the basics with only the most primitive forms savagery prevailing in this form. Subtle synths keep that ritual touch to the tribal rhythmic battering while demonic apparitions take the front position with a malicious and scathing assault across all four hymns.

Along with the more primal songwriting, the production is even rawer than usual (on the later albums) and the static-driven guitars sound ultra-rough while the stampeding snare and kicks hammer the skull with pure satanic might. The vocals sit nicely in the midst to tie it all together and the overall sound works as a singular unit of obliterating might. “Nightside Prayer” delves further into the 90s Black Metal mysticism whereas the others sit on that glorious cloven hoof of Black and Death Metal. While brutish, there is plentiful grooves to appeal to the instincts of the spirit which drive us to bang our heads and summon adrenaline. “The Semen Of Anti Mastery” is a mercurial closing piece which ranges from those bestial bursts to Archgoat’s signature doomy crawls into spiritual darkness. It is truly exciting to have an accompaniment that feels like a lost treasure from the bands past so close to their most ‘advanced’ album to date, giving us the best of both worlds. And both worlds rule when it comes to Archgoat.

Legions of the black flame and Black / Death Metal’s most malignant artistry, hear the call from one of the founding giants. This new addition to their discography is a filthy and festering statement of blasphemy and irreligious defilements that will cleanse the spirit of any godliness. While the albums follow one lineage, the EP’s seem to follow another and this triumphantly sits next to superb efforts “Angelcunt (Tales Of Desecration)” and “Heavenly Vulva (Christ’s Last Rites)”.