Church Of Misery - Thy Kingdom Scum
Rise Above Records/Metal Blade Records
Released - 27th May 2013 (Europe) / June 11th 2013 (USA)
1. B.T.K. (Dennis Rader) - 6:44
2. Lambs to the Slaughter (Ian Brady/Myra Hindley) - 7:36
3. Brother Bishop (Gary Heidnik) - 7:32
4. Cranley Gardens (Dennis Andrew Nilsen) - 7:07
5. One Blind Mice (Quatermass Cover) - 3:06
6. All Hallow's Eve (John Linley Frazier) - 5:25
7. Dusseldorf Monster (Peter Kurten) - 13:08
Band Bio
Also, he was very much into late 60s/early 70s heavy rock material like LEAF HOUND, NOVEMBER, MAY BLITZ, HIGH TIDE, GUN, BLUE OYSTER CULT and so on. It was natural for him to shift his musical direction from metal to a more rock-influenced style.
Since then, Church of Misery have gained a cult reputation around the world, frequently touring in Europe/US and have shared the stage with famed and infamous western bands such as SAINT VITUS, CATHEDRAL, EYEHATEGOD, ELECTRIC WIZARD, ORANGE GOBLIN, FIREBIRD, THE GATES OF SLUMBER, DEATH ROW, ANGEL WITCH, etc. etc. Also, they have appeared in renowned metal/rock festivals in Europe/USA such as Roadburn (Holland), Hellfest (France), and Maryland Deathfest (USA) to date.
Back with a brand new studio album, titled THE KINGDOM SCUM , Church of Misery are set to invade UK and European shores once to an ever growing fanbase of Sabbath worshipping serial killer obsessed fans. You have been warned!
Band Members
Junji Narita - Drums (2000-present)
Hideki Fukasawa - Vocals, Synthesizer (2004-2009, 2011-present)
Ikuma Kawabe - Guitars (2012-present)
Review
Japan's finest Stoner/Doom Metal band of warped outlaws are back with their most disturbing and hard-hitting album to date. THY KINGDOM SCUM!!!
Fuck yeah - The Doom/Stoner Metal world can rejoice that Church Of Misery are back with Thy Kingdom Scum. Another hard-hitting look inside the grisly world of Serial Killers which has always been a huge part of the Church Of Misery legend. Blending epic Doom/Stoner Metal riffs with tales of eerie and grisly real life serial killers carnage.
If you think Church Of Misery would mellow out peacefully with old age then think again. Look at the song titles. Controversial - Hell Yeah. But it has never stopped them before so why should it stop them now.
First track - B.T.K - shows the band are back to their old tricks. Playing 70s inspired Doom/Stoner Metal riffs which starts off with an interview from real killer himself. Dark, broody and deeply unflinching in it's brutality. This is Church Of Misery at their most darkest. They venture to places most Doom/Stoner Metal bands wont even go to. Intense riffs are the main focus here. Creepy as hell and a great start to the album.
2nd track - Lambs To The Slaughter - carries on the dark and violent theme of the album. But done with more top-notch brilliant dare I say funk based Doom/Stoner metal riffage. Then the undeniable presence of vocalist Hideki comes screeching in. Adding a more terrifying vibe to proceedings. Damn despite the grisly subject matter - Church Of Misery know how to write a brilliant head-banging riff to rock out to. Keep listening for more grisly soundbytes about the songs famous namesakes. It really does add a sense of fear to the album at times.
The rest of the album follows the same template of the two songs. Highlighting horrific murderers but done in Church Of Misery's highly unique and brilliant way. They have been doing this type of Doom/Stoner Metal for so long they can now be considered as legends of the genre.
Riffs are played to their full potential. Not a single note or idea is wasted on this brilliant album. It's bleak and downright dangerous at times. But damn you can sure rock the fuck out to it. If your new to the world of Church Of Misery then this is the perfect place to start. See why we rate them as one of the genres finest Stoner/Doom Metal Bands currently out there.
Church Of Misery do a cover of Quatermass classic - One Blind Mice - and they equally make it their own. The band take a British Prog Rock classic and turn it into a dark and seedy mini-classic of their own. A great spin on a truly definitive classic of British Prog Rock.
If I had to pick out two of my fave tracks then it would be the last two tracks - All Hallow's Eve and Dusseldorf Monster. Both highlighting what Church Of Misery are all about. Riffs, Serial Killers, Riffs, Dark Disturbing Real Life Tales and Riffs.
Dusseldorf Monster is probably one of the finest tracks they have written in years. It's an epic tale told by power of sublime Doom/Stoner Metal riffs and with Hideki on top form through out. It ends Thy Kingdom Scum on an almighty high.
Production is immense. Church Of Misery have never sounded better than they do here. This album will strengthen their reputation as one of the world's best Doom/Stoner Metal bands. They are now a visionary band. And on this form they are simply unstoppable.
Thy Kingdom Scum is Church Of Misery's most defining album to date. Absolutely brilliant.
Get your copy when the album comes out in your part of the world.
Highly Recommended.
Thanks to Lisa Gritter at Suburban and Rise Above Records for letting ourselves review the album.
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