Cult Cinema: Iscariot

London's Cult Cinema have delivered their debut EP, Iscariot, a collection of five tracks based on the themes of betrayal, rejection, isolation, violence and suicide. More corpse than corpus, a happy EP it is not, but unlike so many bands that are way too keen to release their first collection of tracks – that are invariably naff, to say the least – Cult Cinema have done us all a favour and waited to produce a work that is remarkable. Eerie 90 second opener 'Akeldama' hovers for the first half of the song, slowly building before noise bursts forth and a barrage of rage and fury explodes for the second half. 'The Beloved Disciple' is harsh, a wall of thrashed-out and melodic elements played out against the occasional exultant guitar howl. The violence continues into the most "metal" of the tracks, 'Tormentor', again a blur of belted drums, guitar riffs and noise, and throat-tearing vocals that culminates in a hard-nosed breakdown laced with atmospheric guitar noise and rampant drumming. 'A Distant And Disconsolate Heart' softens the journey up, but only a tad, for it's no less hard-hitting as the preceding tracks. The eeriness returns with the guitar lines that hover over the tumultuous sea of fierce screams and chaos-infused music. The movielike experience is soon abandoned with closing track 'The Betrayer (Tomb Of The Brave)', beginning with a melodic guitar intro that rapidly succumbs to the filth and fury of harsh metal elements and hardcore fistful-of-nails riffs and skin bashing. There's a beautifully melodic, uplifting and twisted extended instrumental passage towards the close that spirals ever higher before giving way to a burst of chaos that disappears into a solemn and sombre keyboard coda. Iscariot is quite the journey, and as debut EPs go, it's a well-executed slab of violent innovation that means Cult Cinema is a band to keep a close eye on.

Track Listing:

1. Akeldama
2. The Beloved Disciple
3. Tormentor
4. A Distant And Disconsolate Heart
5. The Betrayer (Tomb Of The Brave)

Added: March 8th 2012
Reviewer: Jason Guest
Score:
Related Link: Cult Cinema's Facebook page
Hits: 2085
Language: english

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