Album Type : Full
Length
Date Released : 27/11/2013
Label : Primitive Ways
'Death Sigils', album track
listing :
1. Iron Distort
2. Devil's Breath
3. Death Sigils
4. Ritual Blast
5. Path of the Damned
6. A Hell for the Innocent
7. Blackest Apotheosis
8. Towers of Silence
Bio :
Blackened crust command Occultist was formed in a
living room on Marshall Street in Richmond, VA in 2009. Sonically they
gravitate towards fusing elements of punk/crust/metal - retaining the
visceral primitive aspects of a punk feel with some flourishes of atmosphere
along with no frills, blackened thrash/ death riffage. Vocalist Kerry added her
corroded throat to the mix in the Spring/Summer of 2010, after which they did a
short East Coast run with Hot Graves and released their first EP. "Hell By
Our Hands" dropped in the spring of 2012, shortly before the band
hit the road once more, this time with morbid thrash assassins Ghoul.
Occultist have stayed busy on the live front, sharing
floors and stages with the likes of: Pentagram, GWAR, Tragedy, Black Anvil,
Cough, Dragged Into Sunlight, Nunslaughter, Poison Idea, BuzzOven, Hellbastard,
and Toxic Holocaust. Now, with the imminent release of 'Death Sigils,' the band
have lined up some seriously sick touring arrangements for the coming year, and
are ready to take the nation by storm
Review :
Championed by Terrorizer and other extreme metal
enthusiasts, female fronted noise makers Occultist have demanded our attention
through their effective hybrid of crust punk, black and death metal, or
blackened death crust as a more condensed interpretation. Expectations ran high
for their first full length after the demo 'Hell By Our Hands' displayed
astounding promise. Well, all expectations are exceeded with 'Death Sigils', an
album that is relentless, ruthless and a far cry from the rigid paradigms of
metal that often infects the genre.
Difficult to pigeonhole or categorize, 'Death Sigils'
is in a realm of its own, the blending of extreme metal genres creates
something that can be appreciated by people of various tastes. Death and black
metal riffs together with growling vocal hooks work perfectly alongside the
crust punk onslaught, an amalgamation that generates a brutal ear bludgeoning
assault. Basically, the ultimate soundtrack you need after a shitty day.
Opening track Iron Distort erupts with anger and
utter hostility, distorted, chuggy and at times thrashy, Occultist set the tone
from the get go. Devils Breath is an outstanding track, the death metal influence
being at the forefront of the construction, predominantly displayed through the
guttural death growls, while Death Sigil has some black metal hooks and riffs
immersed within that would turn the head of any devout BM fan. Path of the
Damned illustrates the clear crust punk influences that are aplenty throughout
the album but particularly come through in this track. Finally, Towers of
Silence is a bleak blackened affair, drawing the album to an end with a
blistering guitar solo and most significantly evoking an insatiable want for
more.
Vocalist Kerry Zylstra (aka K.Z) leads the charge
in Occultist, her snarling vocals are nothing short of phenomenal, it’s hard to
believe this is only her first band. And what a band they are, ‘Death Sigils’
is an album of immense quality. Occultist have set such a high standard in
their first full length I eagerly await their next move, anything that even
comes close to ‘Death Sigils’ will be a triumph.
Words by : Heather Blewett
For more information :
http://primitivewaysrecords.com/
