Odz Manouk – “Odz Manouk” – [Crepusculo Negro]

2010 cassette release from another member of Southern California’s ‘Black Twilight Circle’ cult (see Dolorvotre). Considered a demo (because of audio quality and format?) although it had an official release on Crepusculo Negro so it’s really a debut album. One-man project spreads his pain and hate in broad bloody strokes upon a canvas of false metallers’ flayed skin. Track 1 has a two-minute intro of church bells and the resonating shrieks of ghouls from the catacombs below, then launches into tachycardic blastbeat that persists for most of the rest of the ritual. Guitar sound is a buzzing, reverb-shrouded wall of unforgiving blackness. T. 4 has a lovely and effective ambient synth part that does not transgress. Leviathan, Burzum, Belketre, Peste Noire, Deathspell Omega, Glass Coffin, Vrolok, Suicide Solution, I could go on: the cult prevails throughout this. Raw black metal at its best, utilizing sub-standard production to merge all instruments and vocals into one pulsing, overbearingly morbid wall of funereal sound. No bad tracks here: has my full approval. Every time you play it an angel loses its wings.