Inner Sanctvm: Christi Testamenta

Celtic Frost worshippers, Uruguay's black-thrash-death metal band Inner Sanctvm are back 18 years after their last release, 1994's Frozen Souls, and it's as if no time has passed at all. Featuring Anton Reisenegger (Pentagram, Criminal, Lock Up) on vocals, melody and aggression are once again combined in an album that is violent, bruising, and brutal, and destined to be the cause of many a slamming mosh pit. Rapid-fire riffs, thrash grooves and squealing harmonics, slow, heavy chugs, and melodic leads sit atop the battery of drums and the venomous delivery of the first third of the album. Breaking up the momentum of the album, the atmospheric instrumental 'Wisdom's Call' comes at just the right time. Up to here, the tracks share a lot of similarities; the groove of 'The Good Shepherd' sounds like that of 'The Emperor Wears No Clothes' for instance. But, besides 'And The Truth Shall Make You Free', the latter part of the Christi Testamenta has little to offer. The Celtic Frost cover is good but unnecessary and 'Heaven On Their Minds', a cover from the Jesus Christ Superstar soundtrack, is interesting but closes the album with more of a sarcastic clap than the explosive destruction they perhaps hoped for. If you were wondering where this band would be in 1995 or 1996, then this is a pretty good indicator but in 2012, it sounds out of date. If you like your retro metal and think that metal died a death from which it can never return somewhere in the early- to mid-90s, get this. It'll do. The mosh pit beckons…

Track Listing:

1. Machines
2. Hemoglobin
3. Waking The Dead
4. The Emperor Wears No Clothes
5. Trial By Fire
6. The Good Shepherd
7. Myths of Creation
8. Wisdom's Call
9. Dark Frozen Mud
10. And The Truth Shall Make You Free
11. Return To The Eve (Celtic Frost cover)
12. Heaven On Their Minds (From the OST Jesus Christ Superstar)

Added: January 19th 2013
Reviewer: Jason Guest
Score:
Related Link: Inner Sanctvm's website
Hits: 1785
Language: english

[ Printer Friendly Page ]
[ Send to a Friend ]