Ominous Doctrines of the Perpetual Mystical Macrocosm (Reissue)

Inquisition

INQUSITION are a band that are not only creating the best music they've done at […]
By Danny Sanderson
June 4, 2015
Inquisition - Ominous Doctrines of the Perpetual Mystical Macrocosm (Reissue) album cover

INQUSITION are a band that are not only creating the best music they've done at the moment, they are also the biggest they have been since their formation in 1988. Riding a high on the back their latest release "Obscure Verses of the Multiverse", the band have been able to reissue their excellent back catalogue through Seasons of Mist, giving some of their earlier releases the attention they so thoroughly deserve. The last of these reissues is arguably the album that helped bring them to the forefront of the Black Metal scene at large, "Ominous Doctrines of the Perpetual Mystical Macrocosm". Originally released in 2010, this album features some of the bands best known and loved work. So let's delve into this release and revisit ten songs that helped bring this band to international attention.

  Overall, this reissue is great on many levels. From the great, new artwork that has been produced for this reissue by the talented Paolo Girardi, to the music itself. The track that opens this masterpiece is "Astral Path to Supreme Majesties", a song that practically bursts out of the speakers with all the speed, ferocity and razor sharp Black Metal riffs that we've come to expect from this band. Sonically, it sounds great, and is a testament to the bands credo of experimenting with different sounds, styles and tones to create the best music possible. "Command of the Dark Crown" charges forward with a gallop, giving way to some more blisteringly vicious Black Metal after the opening motif. The way that the pace of the music changes multiple times within this song shows another key trait that the band likes to achieve on their releases; a desire to use the music to evoke certain emotive responses to what you're hearing. This is a song that ebbs and flows through different tones, speeds and approaches to the Black Metal sound that really makes this one of the albums stand out tracks. And then we come to perhaps the most well known track off of the release, a song that has endured in the memories of fans and critics alike since it first saw the light of day; "Desolate Funeral Chant". If you've even given this band the most cursory of listens, the chances are that you will have heard this particular track. It's a bonafide classic, from the mid-paced, droning guitar lines that have a mesmerising effect on the listener, through to the powerful, methodical drumming that backs the riffs, or even Dagon's legendary thick, croaking vocals, this is one of the bands most well known compositions. "Cosmic Invocation Rites", easily one of the bands most under-rated songs, sounds particularly fierce, with its harsh, speed driven riffs and juggernaut drumming. All the various musical elements mesh together so perfectly, and it ends up creating a great piece of music. "Conjuration" acts as a short, atmospheric guitar interlude that helps to break the album up, and it works very well.

The album's second half is opened with "Upon the Fire Winged Demon", a very aggressive Black Metal track that has plenty of the bands hallmarks in it, from the riffs mesmerising Metal riffs to the idiosyncratic vocal lines. It closes to the sounds of the motif that made up the previous track, which makes for a great closing section to a great song. Then we reach the albums title track, "Ominous Doctrine of the Perpetual Mystical Macrocosm". This is a very solid, mid-paced affair which, although it is very good, doesn't really stand out that much on this album, purely because there's so much great material on here that it doesn't really catch the listeners attention as much as other tracks might be able to. "Crepuscular Battle Hymn" is characterised by the thick, chugging guitars which give way to those eerie drones that this band are so well known for. The vocals on this song in particular sound epic, and top the music on offer expertly. This is a great song that slowly starts to bring this album to the boil, and gets the audience ready for the climax that's about to come. "Hymn for a Dead Star" is yet another track that I feel is very overlooked when most people talk about this album. It sounds great, has some really great musicianship on all fronts, and helps to bring this album to its high point pretty well, setting us up for the closing number, "Across the Abyss Ancient Horns Bray". This is arguably the best track on which to close this album. It sounds powerful, it's played confidently and it's got so many hooks and draws to it musically that it maintains the listeners attention throughout. The song ends with the same level of speed and ferociousness as it began with, and with that, the album is over.

There are some "breakthrough" albums that are over-hyped, and when revisited, it's clear that there is very little substance to justify the praise it is lauded with. Luckily, this is not one of those albums. In fact, if anything, it not only lives up to the hype that surrounds it, but also exceeds it with ease. This is the sound of a band that were poise to take the world by storm, and as we all know, they were able to achieve that and release a record that was a suitable follow up to this masterpiece. Revisiting this album has given me a newfound appreciation and respect for this American duo, and has got me excited, along with, hopefully the rest of their legions of fans, for whatever comes next from them.<

9 / 10

Almost Perfect

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"Ominous Doctrines of the Perpetual Mystical Macrocosm (Reissue)" Track-listing:

1. Astral Path to Supreme Majesties
2. Command of the Dark Crown
3. Desolate Funeral Chant
4. Cosmic Invocation Rites
5. Conjuration
6. Upon the Fire Winged Demon
7. Ominous Doctrines of the Perpetual Mystical Macrocosm
8. Crepuscular Battle Hymn
9. Hymn for a Dead Star
10. Across the Abyss Ancient Horns Bray

Inquisition Lineup:

Dagon - Vocals, Guitars, Bass
Incubus - Drums

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