Some people always ask about Brazilian extreme Metal roots. Well, to be honest, to track them is a very hard work, but bands as SARCÓFAGO, SEXTRASH, VULCANO and others were a great musical influence for earlier Black Metal scene on Europe, due the trades done in the second half of the 80s and first of 90s. And even the bands that arose after the 80s and recorded their first albums on the beginning of the 90s still have a strong grasp on fans worldwide. And we can say, with all conviction, that Brazilian MYSTIFIER is a true icon of extreme Metal. Their second and legendary album, "Goetia", is a proof of mine words.

Seen by a greater part of the band's fans as their finest album, "Goetia" keeps the same energy and darkened feeling that "Wicca" (their first album), but it as well is on a higher and better level of quality. The music is mature, stronger and way better in all aspects. The vocals uses a good diversity of tunes (guttural and harsh ones), the guitar riffs are very good (using very good arrangements, and not as simple as was on "Wicca"), and rhythmic session (bass and drums, I mean) is fantastic, giving the necessary weight, but as well guiding the band's tempos solid. And even now, 22 years after it was released for the first time, "Goetia" is a great album to hear. The sound quality is better than "Wicca", more clear and heavy, but keeping than necessary "dirty" and "graven" atmosphere that their music needs. I dare to say that some bands are looking for this same feeling, but to find it is not a matter of sound quality, but of soul. If you have it on you, fine. If not, sorry for you...

And even now, songs as "Aleister Crowley & Ordo Templi Orientis" (fast and thundering, with some slower moments, and a great work done by bass and drums), the morbid "An Elizabethan Devil Worshipper's Prayer Book" (excellent keyboards giving a taste for this slow and morbid song), the ferocious and aggressive "The Sign of the Unholy Cross" (another fine piece of Hell on Earth, with great vocals using a non conventional tune), the slow funeral "Cӕrimonia Sanguilentu (Göetia)" (great slow paced tempos until a certain point, were the tempos gain a little speed, and then, return to the morbid pace again, showing very good and sinister riffs), the darkly spoken peril called "The True Story About the Doctor Faust's Pact with Mephistopheles" (a more atmospheric insight is used, with very good presence of bass and drums), the catching curse of "The Sinuous Serpent of Genesis (Leviathan)", and the abrasive and fast "The Baphometic Goat of Knights Templar in the 12^th Century". But as a bonus for this version, we have three live songs: "Osculum Obscenum", "Cursed Excruciation", and "The Sign of the Unholy Cross" (live). They have a raw sound quality, but they are testimonies of the band's live energy. Only the ones who saw a show of the band (like me) can say what I mean.

This is a perfect reissue for a very fundamental album for extreme Metal. And of course it comes in a very good time!<