Not once have I listened to an album that has reminded me of the muddy chasms that populate this earth until now. This album is raw, gritty and downright evil; the perfect combination to create a successful Black Metal album. With the exception of three instrumentals, this record is intensely heavy, gritty, dirty and all the other adjectives that bring the colour of brown to mind.

The opening track, "Temple I", is a beautifully sounding melodic instalment that is a perfect way to set an eerie mood at the beginning of the album. The acoustic track sounds like something you would hear in an old English pub back in the medieval era, which is a glorious sound to behold. Suddenly, out of nowhere, the crash of cymbals and guitars of "Black Bone Crucifix" ruptures the ambient atmosphere and plunges you into a dark pit of Black and Doom Metal. Everything from the guitar tone to the sound of the drums to Mors' voice just reeks of evil. Even though I am not a huge fan of his vocal style, I can safely say that it suits the album perfectly, and fans of their previous work will be happy to know that they have nothing to fear when listening to this album.

We are also provided with a variety of styles throughout the album. Some songs such as "Baptized By The Black Urine Of The Deceased" contain heavy, slow chugging riffs that leave your neck shattered after irresistibly head banging to them. There are also faster sections that are more chaotic, and for one minute in "Temple II" there is just a cluster of noise to completely fill your ears. One track that caught me off-guard was "Gate". This song is truly amazing, showing off Master Reverend N's insane talent on the acoustic guitar. This five minute acoustic instrumental is perfect to relax and wind down to.

I was greatly pleased when I listened to this album. It's something I could have in the background as well as something to get down and dirty with. I would definitely recommend giving this one a listen!