Last year the individual known to the world as TRANCE OF THE UNDEAD released their full length Black Metal debut album, "Chalice Of Disease". I'm getting the chance this week to sit down and go through it and I really cannot wait. Something that working here at Metal Temple has allowed me to do is to really get my claws stuck into some fantastic underground Black Metal bands and I am loving it each and every time. The album's artwork is dark and rustic, it bodes well for a gritty and determined tracking.

Opening the record is "The Old Abbey", a purely atmospheric introduction that builds from fairly non-descript beginnings but keeps you on the edge of your seat. Picture a movie slowly panning through the mist to a flame licked walls and forests as you gaze upon a ritual. "Grave Sacrament" bursts to life with an absolute WALL of dense and heavy guitar tracking. It was a little bit difficult to discern the different layers, but the effect the vocals gave, as though it was some ethereal voice during the ritual really did strike me as quite powerful. There is some sublime melodic structures in the back tracking as well, but I feel like they might just be a little bit too hidden in the dense wall of music. "Sic Transit Gloria Mundi" is another crushingly heavy track, with that same ghoulish vocal line in the back tracking, but in its inconspicuousness, it really does have one of the most downright disturbing and interesting effects I have come across.

"Angel Of The Bottomless Pit" comes in a little bit steadier, the thumping powerful drum line really giving that sort of marching beat to the track before it again descends into chaos and that almost suffocating effect. If I could put a finger on it, I would imagine that this is what hell sounds like, it is eerie, misty and disorientating. "Overture To Uncreation" stood out to me, solely for its introduction. Again, building from a lowly beginning it slowly builds to feel as though it is physically towering over you. And when the music really kicks together, it feels somewhat intimidating, but in some sort of ecstatic sadistic way.

I just want to jump to the last track "Chalice Of Disease" (need to leave something for you guys to find out for yourself now don't I!) and holy shit. What a finale. It is everything that is fucking amazing about Underground Black Metal. The ambience, the structure and atmosphere. It just delivered everything that I wanted over an epic 8 minutes and I will have this on repeat for some days I tell you!

Overall, what a fantastic album. TRANCE OF THE UNDEAD is exactly what they say on the tin. But it truly is an experience from start to finish. If I had the chance to hear "Chalice Of Disease" fresh from anew again, I would simply lie myself in a dark room (maybe blindfold yourself) and put on some noise cancelling headphones and just fully immerse yourself in some soul crushing heavy Black Metal.