WEREGOAT have earned comparisons to bands such as DIOCLETIAN and ARCHGOAT with previous releases, and such comparisons gave me a pretty good idea of what to expect. Combined with the artwork featuring a lusty goatman, I was led to expect an album that was blasphemous and fun, but ultimately something that might get lost in the shuffle of 2017 releases. While the pummeling drums had the potential to be monotonous after a while, the well-crafted and discernible riffs gave things a spark that kept the music vitally alive. This isn't some "more brutal-than-thou" band out to shock and nothing else - instead the band shows a strong songwriting ability which makes the album a party to remember.

"Molested by Evil" begins on a furious note, with engaging riffs. Nocturnal Hellfuker's inhuman vocal delivery and strong bass add fuel to the fire that is this track. A galloping break prevents monotony from setting in, with an effective pause just before a boiling solo by Lecherous Agressor. The next solo brings things to a white-hot level with wild, echoing notes and generous helpings of vibrato. The pace takes a slower turn on "Forked Tongue Lashes Between the Virgin's Thighs". The smouldering, doomy riffs build up tension, and then burst forth in a series of wailing riffs. Sadoseducer provides interesting tom fills, and some fierce blast beats in the faster sections. The chorus on this track was particularly catchy, and is sure to contribute to sore necks at live shows. "At Full Moon She Bleeds" opens with some epic drum rolls, and the vocals are demonic, in the best way. The band turns up the thrash vibes, with headbanging-inducing riffs. The solo soars, as if coming from another plane altogether. "As Cold as the Devil's Seed" comes along to sweep us sinners to hell, with a sinister atmosphere enhanced by the vocals. The music is broken up by well-placed silences, and the cascade of counter-melodies near the end conjures up images of hellscapes.

WEREGOAT has created a piece of devilishly fun blackened thrash, and they show great care in the songwriting. The band lets their meaty riffs stand out, instead of being buried in murk. While there's a little monotony here and there with the near-constant battering of the drums, it's a minor issue overall. If you're after some rough, irreverent black metal, then "Pestilential Rites..." may be just the thing to satisfy your appetite.