The use of what is labeled as Death/Black Metal can be traced back to the first half of the 80's, with many bands that would be labeled as Thrash Metal in the near future being (namely, SLAYER, KREATOR, DESTRUCTION, SODOM and some others) depicted as that. But the form of playing Death/Black Metal evolved due influences of names as SARCÓFAGO, BEHERIT, BLASPHEMY and others that changed the features on their early works during the second half of the 80's. So pay attention and take care when using such a label, because some bands would hate to be compared to BEHEMOTH. Stating this, now it's easy to explain and analyze what the Portuguese band LAW OF CONTAGION is up to with their second album, "Oecumenical Rites for the Antichrist".

Ishkur's (the only member of the band) ideas are expressed in a mix between Death/Black Metal model as stated by the pioneers of the second half of the 80's and the early bands of the Second Wave of Black Metal of the 90's (namely, MAYHEM and DARKTHRONE), using a brutal and somber form of music that is based on funereal ambiences, but with an aggressive insight. It's bitter, morbid and nasty, filled with a morbid energy, so it's a good work for those that love the releases of Death/Black Metal released between 1986 and 1996. The sonority of "Oecumenical Rites for the Antichrist" is what could be expected by the description above: rough, organic and darkened. It's the quality that fits on the musical work, with those nasty instrumental tunes and with the right sound effects. But it's not hard to understand what's being expressed by fans used to such an approach on the sound qualities of the genre.

The brutal and fast appeal of "Towards the Gates" (simple technical work, but full of hooks, and what good low tuned snarls), the massive mix between weight and darkened aggressiveness heard on "Obsidian Eye" (fed by massive guitar riffs), the piledriving parts heard on "Hoof of Lead", the aggressive darkened grasp of "The Great Deceiver" (with a simple, but efficient, work on bass guitar and drums), and the nasty and terrifying funereal ambiences of "Cacodemon" are the right ones to hear and be hooked by the band's music.

At the end of all, LAW OF CONTAGION shows they can work in a great way on "Oecumenical Rites for the Antichrist", but the fans can expect more of Ishkur's ideas in the future.