Cosmic Void Ritual: Vitriol Tablet Instructions: Rehearsing Speeches for When You Die (2018)

This is my third release from Cosmic Void Ritual, including another demo and a split that the so-called "Unknown Entity" did with Fetid Zombie.  The band has six releases, none of which is a full-length, since forming in 2017.  So Unknown Entity has been pretty busy.

The title to this demo is probably longer than the actual runtime of the demo.  There are just two songs here.  The band seems to like to title their songs in such a way as to lead the listener to believe that they are continuations of prior songs.  For instance, the second track is called "The Veil of Space Prevails (Dead Stars: II)", but I cannot find reference to a "Dead Stars: I".  Kind of confusing.

The music is riff-heavy death metal with something of a progressive bent to it.  The songs usually focus on one or two riffs, but do not seem to have a real conventional structure.  It sounds kind of spacey and weird, which is what the band is quite obviously going for.  My only real issue is the lack of bass.  The releases of Cosmic Void Ritual would sound a little better with some hefty bottom end that is lacking.

As could probably be guessed by the fact that I already have three releases from this band that has yet to issue a full-length, I quite like the band.  This is probably their best release yet.  I have a feeling the best is yet to come though.

Abhor: Occulta Religio (2018)

Abhor fits in well on a playlist with Fleshgod Apocalypse.  For one thing the music is fairly similar: extreme metal with symphonic elements.  In addition, both bands are from Italy.  But that is where the superficial similarities end.  Abhor bases their metal sound in black metal whereas Fleshgod Apocalypse is more of a death metal band.  And of course, the symphonic elements are toned down considerably in Abhor's music, but they are a major element in that of Fleshgod Apocalypse.  I guess I really have no idea where I am going with this.  I am not sure how this band escaped my notice for so long, because I really enjoyed this release.

The album title here is definitely appropriate.  Abhor's music is generally slower-paced, doom-laden black metal but with some symphonic elements.  Many of these come in the form of organ music that gives off the atmosphere of an occult ritual in most parts.  In other parts, the effect is of the soundtrack to a cheesy ghost movie.  The vocals are often delivered in a guttural raspy voice, but there are moments of clean singing and even chanting which just adds to the occult ritual and/or ghost  story soundtrack.

Abhor strikes a perfect balance between traditional black metal and symphonic elements.  Those elements never overwhelm the black metal foundation and complement it quite well.  This is a very impressive album from a band I was not previously aware of, but will definitely be checking out further now.