I'm not exactly sure how "Anti-cosmic" Black Metal is supposed to be a Metal subgenre. However, this is about the only way Swedish REVERORUM IB MALACHT are willing to describe their style. It sounds more like a "secret" Satanic society to me, but, well... they can definitely get away with it. "De Mysteriis Dom Christi" is their sophomore full-length album, following 2011's "Urkaos" and its preceding 3 demos, set to be release on the upcoming September 16th.

The track list might seem quite puzzling, the track titles being merely Roman numerals, making the album feel like a book consisting of eleven chapters. The cover artwork also promises a grim and uninviting atmosphere which is obviously the case. "De Mysteriis Dom Christi" is decidedly very experimental and quite unique actually, in an impressive way, though. The introduction makes it clear; chaotic sound, drowned into a myriad of soundscapes and sinister noises eventually creating a random unintelligible mumble, yet not short of ominous appeal.

Despite its uniqueness, the album soon gets somewhat tiresome. Almost instrumental, with almost no audible guitar riffs whatsoever. On most tracks it gets really difficult to hear why REVERORUM IB MALACHT are actually labeled Black Metal. It is definitely the subgenre though. They are just doing it in a (probably deliberate) odd way. "IV" Might be as close as it gets to conventional Black Metal. The dim and out-of-tune vocals are quite a plus on this record. One would come seeking high-pitched shrieks or evil growls but that is really scarcely present here.

Despite everything, "De Mysteriis Dom Christi" is not by any means lackluster of insipid, but, again, a very unique experience, and it can be absolutely enjoyable if you grow fond of the random mumble after a while.