It seems that lately I've really been avoiding the more Satanic aspects of Black Metal. Now, it isn't because I particularly dislike the music, not at all - I like weird and I like extreme. So it goes without say that the more something is weird or extreme or both, the more likely is that I will seek it out. However, being as I attend church and am somewhat spiritual, this does put a mild damper on my appreciation of all things that are... well, obviously Satanic. Though I guess you can't believe in one thing without the other, right? So, I can still appreciate the music and when it comes to this extremely talented Black Metal group - EREHES - and their album "Proclamation Ov The Horned God" I'm sort of on the fence when it comes to content vs. quality.

You see, what is utterly confusing - maybe a bit terrifying - about EREHES, is that "Proclamation Ov The Horned God" is insanely well put together. Everything is mixed and mastered to perfection, improving upon the traditional 'closet' quality you get from Black Metal. So, there is almost no plausible reason for EREHES to even attempt to cash in on any Satanic image. Which makes everything here seem very genuine - maybe even genuinely Satanic. And this is even with the fact that the 'olde' spelling 'Ov' (much like blackened Death Metal cash-cow BEHEMOTH, though they are far more interesting in almost every aspect) replaces the standardized spelling.

Now, strangely EREHES really mixes things up with the Black Metal formula. The bass and guitar are evenly mixed and each guitars voice is distinct enough for you to realize there is two guitars and not just one with some insane distortion going on. Drums are great, oh my - thank you EREHES for putting some effort into mixing your drums properly. Real skill and thought was put into each and every song on this album. Thankfully, that includes the title track (which most bands these days often over-compensate on and end up making a muddled mess of a song). EREHES breaks the cycle of terrible title tracks and just makes one that is so good and so terrifyingly genuine that you really can't help but listen to it in awe.

There is just so much evil ready to be unleashed on the listener with "Proclamation Ov The Horned God" that it's hard not to just listen to it all in one sitting. It isn't something that I could honestly say is safe to listen to around the family - then again, what Black Metal group is? If this is your thing, it's probably your best bet for anything black, blackened, and evil.