A new black metal threat has been unleashed in the form of Germany's Chaos Invocation who have just released their debut album entitled In Bloodline With The Snake. Basically if you prefer your black metal to have a straight ahead, seething assault and peppered with heavy occult themes, much like fellow German's Watain, then Chaos Invocation have got exactly what you need here.
From the subterranean and downright creepy, brief opening instrumental "Channel To Mysteries" it's straight into the savage blastbeats and furious tremolo picked guitar work of "The Seer Of Divine Fire, which also features some fantasic rabid vocals courtesy of someone who goes by the name of M. On the topic of vocals, the high caliber of M's delivery on this disc is definitely a major highlight especially on tracks like "Injection", "Across Mental Borders" and the savage seven and half minute "Psalms Of Fornication". He sounds truly possessed and goes for the jugular on each and every one of these compositions, which don't come across as songs, as much as they feel like one continuous bloody ritual.
Together along with guitarist A and drummer AD this trio has successfully crafted an album that is devastatingly brutal and at the same time still offers plenty of variety through a multitude of well executed time changes, and dark, atmospherics. The track "Pathways" offers the most pleasant surprise, as it features just the guitar and some spoken word. A lays down some great soaring leads on the electric guitar overtop the underlying dark melodies, before switching over to acoustic and firing off a brief but clean and crisp sounding solo as the track slowly winds down.
In Bloodline With The Snake is just the beginning, and certainly an auspicious one at that, of what is supposed to be a trilogy, so look for more from Chaos Invocation in the not too distant future. While you wait though In Bloodline With The Snake should definitely keep you satisfied until that next apocalyptic offering.
Track Listing
1) Channel To Mysteries
2) The Seer Of Divine Fire
3) Injection-Poison Of The Black Prophets
4) In Bloodline With The Snake
5) Unlock The Abyss
6) Across Mental Borders
7) Psalms Of Fornication
8) To Harvest The Madness Of Satan
9) Pathways
10) Marana Tha
11) Trident Of Illumination