BLACK SABBATH can be said not only as the all-creator of Metal, but ignited what many call as the fusion of Doom Metal with Stoner Metal: the first due its brutal and oppressive slow rhythms, and the second due the simple and organic sonority used on its early releases (remember that they lacked the monetary support to record their three early full-lengths in a better way then things were done). But such ways are still used today (after two rebirths during the 80s and 90s), and it can be heard on “Codex Pestilentia”, the second full-length of the trio CRYPT MONARCH, from Costa Rica.

Recorded and produced by trio itself at Cabin in the Woods Recordings, the sonority is abrasive and organically old-fashioned, but always trying to be balanced with the needed understandable outfit for the fans’ sake. And they found a very good balancing point between both aspects. The artwork of Alexey Gorboot (cover) and Cerrabuz (layout) depicts what there are musically up to. Using a Doom/Stoner Metal outfit to deal with occult lyrical themes, their music sounds incandescent to the ears, with that rough appeal of the genre. But the musical efforts of the trio results in an organic and catching form of music, with subjective melodies under the raw outfit of the trio’s music. Its raw and full of energy, but hypnotic in many senses.

When the fans are about to deal with the band’s music, they must have in mind that they use long time lengths, then, after hearing to “Terror from Above”, “Cultus Solis Aeterni”, “Two Sleeps”, “War of the Gargantuan (Aquadome)” and “Eaten by the Castle of Flies (Pt. 1 Acid Chambers / Pt. 2 Dark Dawn)” becomes easier. It’s very good, but the trio seems to still have some hidden cards in their sleeve to be used in the future (what means that they have potential to make greater songs). At the end of all, CRYPT MONARCH deserves applauses for its efforts shown on “Codex Pestilentia”, but more can be expected from them.