One quick look at the cute little creature on the cover of Baphometic Chaosium and I think most folks who weren't already familiar with US black metal act Lightning Swords of Death pretty much knew what they were getting themselves into. If you've followed this band for the past few years, you'll no doubt already be aware that they are a solid, if unoriginal bunch of guys who really have a love for the European & Scandinavian black metal scenes.
I'm kind of torn with Baphometic Chaosium; on the one hand, there's some more than competent, violent & well crafted black metal to be found here, with just the right amount of pummeling thrash elements thrown in for good measure. Tunes like "Acid Gate", the epic "Epicyclarium", and the kick ass title track just seem to push all the right buttons, with raging riffs, pulverizing blast beats, and evil vocals flying about the mix in wicked fashion. The problem is, we've all really heard this all before, and in most cases, better. A song like "Psychic Waters" as violent as it is, sounds like too many of the current death metal acts who like to add black metal elements to their music, and "Chained to Decay" (as much as I like it) just seems to be trying to cop Marduk when that band likes to inject doom passages into their furious delivery. Also, some of the vocal 'chanting' that can be heard in spots on the album just don't work.
All that being said, Baphometic Chaosium, despite the cliche title and equally cliche cover art, is not a bad US black metal release by any means. I'm digging most of it, and I'm sure plenty fans out there will as well, but if you are expecting something that's going to completely wow you and set the black metal world on fire, well, not so much.
Track Listing
1. Baphometic Chaosium (4:48)
2. Acid Gate (6:24)
3. Psychic Waters (3:57)
4. Cloven Shields (2:16)
5. Chained to Decay (4:51)
6. R'Lyeh Wuurm (4:07)
7. Epicyclarium (7:56)
8. Oaken Chrysalis (4:26)
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