Released by: Nuclear Blast Records
Release Date: Out Now!!!
Genre: Black Metal
Line-up:
Helmuth | vocals / guitars
Serpenth | bass
BloodHammer | drums
Tracklist:
1. Baphomet 4:47
2. The Devil’s Son 4:20
3. Swinefever – Regent Of Pigs 4:50
4. Apophis – Black Dragon 6:12
5. Totenkult – Exegesis Of Deterioration 5:43
6. Totenbeschwörer 2:15
7. Spell Of Reflection 5:21
8. Embracing A Star 5:34
9. Totenritual 2:46
The latest 9 track offering from Austria’s BELPHEGOR titled Totenritual is full of hooks and technical brutality that both old and new fans of the band will enjoy.
BELPHEGOR are Austria’s black metal icons and this release celebrates the Totenritual full-length album release and tours around the world. This month the band will storm their way across Europe promoting this release and forward to continue their crusade throughout the US. This run of shows will showcase the album in what some fans have described as their most powerful release yet, with a tight lineup-up behind them.
In relation to these live rituals from BELPHEGOR, have released a series of limited edition LP’s of Totenritual through Nuclearblast. The album is also available on CD and DVD format.
As the dark times of winter draw nearer, BELPHEGOR release another triumphant album again proving how they are one of the most consistently extreme bands in the death / black metal scene. This album was recorded in Stage One Studios in Germany and Studio Mischmaschine in Austria. Totenritual comes three years after their successful 2014 release Conjuring The Dead. Totenritual brings forward nine new tracks full of blasts and riffs in a dark setting, 24 years after the bands foundation which shows BELPHEGOR’s inventive creativity. The material was mixed by Jason Suecof in Audiohammer Studios in Florida and mastered by Mark Lewis. Fans will also notice the impressive cover artwork which was again created by the Greek artist Seth Siro Anton, who also made the covers for Pestapocalypse VI (2006) and Conjuring The Dead (2014) for BELPHEGOR.
The first single “Baphomet” will no doubt be played live on the upcoming tour and in many ways this song contains all of the key elements that make up the rest of the album. Blast-beats from Bloodhammer and eerie atmospherics throughout by Hellmuth’s diverse vocal range in the death / black metal genre.
Another stand out track is “Spell of Reflection” which is full of chugging riffs with pinched harmonics and great technical playing ability which the band is known for by leaving them a head and shoulders above other bands in the genre. The drumming and precision throughout the timing of this track is superb with heavy breakdown sections and machine-gun like drumming throughout. A personal favourite from Totenritual was “Embracing A Star” which starts off with an eerie distant piano interlude before blasting into a syncopated drum beat and heavy chugging guitars. This sounds like a BELPHEGOR track that would go down really well live and once of the heaviest on the album. The final track which is the title track “Totenritual” is the perfect ending to an already powerful release. A very fast but deadly track full of double blast, tremelo picked riffs and high screeching vocals from Helmuth.
Written by: David Bell
Rating: 9/10
BELPHEGOR will play Europe and return to North America / Canada this year.
NORTH AMERICAN »TOTENRITUAL« CRUSADE 2017!
06.11.2017 – USA – New York, NY – Gramercy Theatre
07.11.2017 – USA – Manchester, NH – Jewel Music
08.11.2017 – USA – Philadelphia, PA – Voltage Lounge
09.11.2017 – USA – Baltimore, MD – Ottobar
11.11.2017 – USA – Spartanburg, NC – Ground Zero
12.11.2017 – USA – Orlando, FL – The Haven
14.11.2017 – USA – Houston, TX – Scout Bar
15.11.2017 – USA – Fort Worth, TX – Rail Club
16.11.2017 – USA – Austin, TX – Come and Take it Live!
18.11.2017 – USA – Kansas City, MO – Riot Room
19.11.2017 – USA – Denver, CO – Roxy Theater
22.11.2017 – USA – Phoenix, AZ – Joe’s Grotto
25.11.2017 – USA – Oakland, CA – Metro Opera House
27.11.2017 – USA – Seattle, WA – Studio Seven
28.11.2017 – CAN – Vancouver, BC – Rickshaw Theatre
29.11.2017 – CAN – Edmonton, AB – Starlite Room
03.12.2017 – USA – Joliet, IL – The Forge
04.12.2017 – USA – Detroit, MI – Harpo’s
05.12.2017 – CAN – Toronto, ON – Mod Club
06.12.2017 – CAN – Ottawa, ON – Maverick’s
07.12.2017 – CAN – Quebec City, QC – Le Cercle
08.12.2017 – CAN – Montreal, QC – Corona Theatre
09.12.2017 – CAN – Rouyn, QC – Scène Évolu-Son
EUROPEAN »TOTENRITUAL« CRUSADE 2017!
28.09.2017 – DK – Copenhagen, Pumpehuset
29.09.2017 – GER – Dresden, Puschkin
30.09.2017 – NL – Amstelveen, P60
01.10.2017 – NL – Apeldoorn, Gigant
03.10.2017 – GER – Erfurt, From Hell
04.10.2017 – GER – Berlin, SO36
05.10.2017 – GER – Oberhausen, Helvete
06.10.2017 – BEL – Bruges, Het Entrepot
07.10.2017 – BEL – Marbehan, Bois-Des-Isles
08.10.2017 – UK – London, The Dome
10.10.2017 – UK – Glasgow, Audio
11.10.2017 – UK – Newcastle, The Riverside
12.10.2017 – IRE – Belfast, Limelight 2
13.10.2017 – IRE – Dublin, Voodoo Lounge
15.10.2017 – FR – Paris, Gibus Live
16.10.2017 – FR – Grenoble, L’ilyade
17.10.2017 – FR – Marseille, Jas’ Rod
18.10.2017 – CH – Lucerne, Konzerthaus Schüür
19.10.2017 – IT – Brescia, Circolo Colony
20.10.2017 – AUT – Graz, Explosiv
21.10.2017 – AUT – Vienna, Szene
BELPHEGOR – RETURN TO SWEDEN 2017!
16.12.2017 – SWE – Norrköping, Black Christmass Festival
BELPHEGOR »TOTENRITUAL« FESTIVAL INVASION 2018!
01.04.2018 – GER – Munich, Dark Easter Metal Meeting
02.08.2018 – GER – Wacken Open Air, Night To Dismember
BELPHEGOR Totenritual is out now through Nuclearblast. I think that all old and new fans will enjoy picking up this album and attending the bands upcoming shows.
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BELPHEGOR online: |
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www.belphegor.at |
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