INSANITY CULT began way back in 2011 in Athens but didn't complete its roster for several years. "Of Despair and Self-Destruction" is their second full-length album following a re-release of their premiere album at the start of this year. Bleak Black Metal is their genre of choice and my first tip-off was the obligatory impossible-to-read graphic that spells out their name.

The prologue track is an enticing sorrowful instrumental. With no sense of rushing to get to the goal, it is a deep plunge into the icy waters of INSANITY CULT. By the time we come to "Seeds of Lesser Gods" we get exactly what you want from Black Metal: savage playing with an undertones of forboding and misery. The screeching vocals delivered in Greek add an almost Pagan element distinct from the typical English that most bands go for. "All Now Are Wounds" is a desperate breakdown with vocals howled at a ridiculous register along to the shredding guitars. Hellish and incomprehensible I can only hope the vocals are as brutal as they sound.

"IX" is more evenly paced, spreading out and letting the band really sink into the melancholy while the vocals continue to wail in agony. The ferocious guitars pick back up before too long, bringing us back to tempo. The appropriately named "Interlude: The Bitter Wind of Remembrance" is beautiful in its own remorseful and sullen way; it is another instrumental that pulls away into a gently whistling wind before finding the acoustic-sounding guitars again. Going on for almost nine minutes it is probably a bit long for most people, for it really feels like an intermission for you to relax to and decompress before the distorted guitar solos at the finish remind you that the album isn't done.

"In my Abysmal Dreams" is a good starting point for those looking to get a feel for INSANITY CULT, as it is a great track that is neither too harsh nor too restrained. Spoken lyrics are a reprieve from the ear-splitting vocals we have gotten thus far, and the emotion in the voice a universal language that bridges the language gap. I found "Birth of Eos" to be an interesting track because of the abmormally optimistic title (Eos being the ancient Greek goddess of dawn), and the track itself has a sunny energy to it, which is something that could be easily overlooked due to its severity.

"Sinister Lights and Manic-Depression" has what I would almost describe as a Groove tilt towards the start, but hits the most extreme, high demonic shrieks and unstoppable riffs, choking any lingering resistance from you. While I think the "Interlude" went on a little bit long and was distracting from the album as a whole, it was a welcome, well-written breather.

This is good old-fashioned Black Metal at its emotional finest. You can't go wrong with INSANITY CULT, so put on your best robes and practice your chanting because you'll want to join the cult!