Impurity / Satanicristo – Rites of Desecration [Split]

There must be something in the water in the Netherlands because the consistency of both bands and labels seems to be never-ending. Whether I am worshipping the might of Witchfukker and Lucifericon or keeping my eyes on the releases distributed by the likes of Wolfkult Religion, I have become increasingly aware of the quality that seems to ooze from that country. Yet one of the latest releases from the label, the Impurity/Satanicritio split seven inch entitled ‘Rites of Desecration’, has caught my attention more than any other. With the combination of Impurity’s glory and the energy of the newly formed Satanicristio I had a sneaking suspicion that this split release would not faulter in quality. My suspicion was only proved furthermore when I heard the release, these two bands came together to fly the flag of true South American Metal under the watchful eye of Wolfkult Religion, and they did so with unholy grace.

The split itself takes on the theme of desecration, fitting for a release as extreme as this one. With both bands sharing members, we can see how the consistency would stay true, but I am so glad it did. For it makes for a fearsome assault on all things holy and a reminder that false metal can still be attacked in the modern day. Starting with the Impurity track, we are greeted with a titan, ‘Desecrating the Sacristy’. Beginning with slow droning guitars, Impurity quickly remind us of what they have set out to deliver from their conception, true sonic terror. My respect for these Brazilian maniacs grows even more with this release. I say this for it seems all too common for extreme bands to slow down with age, understandable I suppose, but Impurity shows no interest in doing so. With a tour of Europe and a second split on the way, also made available through Wolfkult Religion, Impurity stand strong and untamed. An eternal flame still lighting the way for the underground.

Satanicristo, the newcomers to the scene, allow for the same eerily punishing tone to continue. With church bells clanging in the distance, like the Impurity track, it does not take long for the assault to begin. Pulling us into a mid-tempo verse, the reverberated vocals summon a sound that could only come from ones truly in league with Satan. Their previous work, ‘Bastardizing the Holiness’, also upholds the same Brazilian quality, unsurprising coming from a band created by members formerly of Holocausto, Mutilator and Sarcófago.

Wolfkult Religion wasted no effort in releasing this split, for a formidable example of metal is what we need in the modern era of over produced, passionless nonsense. It may be so that anyone can make metal nowadays, but not everyone can retain the underground spirit and still put out a quality release like these two bands do. As far as I am concerned, the more releases like this the better. Splits have always been a part of the underground and this one leads by example in showing that they still are, and if they uphold the same vicious quality as this one, fans of Archgoat, Blasphemy and Holocausto will be pleased. So here it for yourself and allow the sound of Impurity and Satanicristo to possess you! (Brione McGuinness)

— — — — —

I’m not gonna lie if I tell you I chuckled when I read the title of the split, thinking the vocabulary of band members on this scene is so dangerously limited… this title appears everywhere, in the titles, song lyrics, tour announcements… It’s just weird. I later started laughing in panic when I figured out I’m writing a review for a split in the combined length of 7 minutes. By two bands which share members. It took me a proper listen to get the idea. And then it wasn’t so funny any more.

Impurity have been present since the south American underground scene was only starting out in the late 80’s and have been active ever since, releasing material and playing shows almost consistently (most fans and especially musicians on this music scene are apparently scared to death to hear that word) only taking a couple of year off in the meanwhile, with their last full length being released five years ago, after a very vivid couple of years filled with appearances, shows, tours and releases before that.

On the other side, Satanicristo is a relatively new band, being on the scene for less than a decade and have only started to show off their work last year, when their first release ‘Bastardizing the Holiness’ was unleashed upon the unsuspecting masses. Considering these two bands share members, somewhere swift with the idea Satanicristo is just an Impurity spin off while Impurity is not active, so basically Impurity jr. If you will.

These 7 minutes made sure people who share the previously mentioned assumption consider keeping their mouths shut. This record made sure everything is about balance of ferocity. While Impurity’s side is slower and more calculated, as the band is infamous for walking the thin line between bestial and grinding and managing not to take sides in this regard, the Satanicristo’s side is faster and more raw, giving off almost a punk attitude, the ferocity is equal on both sides.

And yet, both sides were basically created by the same people, showing off that even if you have an opinion on something, you can easily shift it or at least present it differently if you need to do so. Perspectives are always meant to be changed and it’s always interesting to see something from a new point of view you didn’t consider previously. That, ghouls and boils, is an amazing example of balance, not just in ferocity, but in general in life. Staying true to yourself is not being cast in stone, as stones can be broken or thrown, preferably into someone’s head. That’s the general energy of this record. Short, fast and making a very strong point. (Black Mary)

— — — — —

Rites of Desecration! It is the cursed appellation used to invoke this conspiracy between two dark entities vomited from Brazilian tombs. Over a period of seven damned minutes, they intend to quickly annihilate all that is sacred.

Side A was left in the clutches of the Impurity cult. I must confess that as a die-hard follower of this cursed horde, I was waiting to listen carefully to this spit towards the cursed cross. My desires were damned and consecrated to evil. After a brief introduction, the first notes of the guitar in its rotten tonality open its jaws towards an impure, blasphemous whirlwind of unleashed pestilence. The screams regurgitated by the Priest desecrate everything in their path. These chants of possession merge with the powerful hammering of the Leper. It is here that we are suspended for a moment in time and enter “Campo de Exterminio”. This is where that ancient form of machine-gunning is deployed in a contained manner, but with the feeling that everything is about to explode into the air. The syncopated chaos is present in some passages, enthroning his brand and banner that this legendary drummer has bequeathed to us in the past with the glorious Sarcofago and the war cult Holocausto. Towards the end of the attack, an unexpected guitar solo crushes everything in a ferocious assault, throwing more fuel to the cursed nocturnal bonfire that consumes itself in immeasurable darkness, while the flag continues to wave towards the satanic victory of the South American Black Death.

The B side belongs to the demons of Satanicristo, a damn duo composed by Ron Seth and Armando Leprous. They hit with force after the bells of hell stun the Christian world from the depths. As if they were demons emerging from the abyss, the ‘Rite of Invocation’ is consummated, annihilating with each step. The influences of the old Blasphemy and some winks to Sadomator howl from the beginning in the pestilent composition. The dismemberment formula is reverberant vociferations with hammers of torment, a chorus in a dead and rotten tone to return again to the agonizing march of punishment. The final sound of Satanicristo is a little cleaner in terms of rottenness (only for experts). At minute five and a few seconds, those damned, decapitated bells return, announcing along with the furious cuts of the instruments that the invoked entity has made an appearance with its characteristic stench of infernal sulfur and thousands of dead humans. Another damned guitar solo foreshadows the end of the attack, concluding the black ceremony a few seconds later.

‘Rites of Desecration’ is a well-balanced split in terms of sound, in communion with the cover art that whispers like a black horror in your ear what will emerge from the Brazilian abyss: ‘The ancient beast of Impurity and the new beast hungry for blood’. A great bet by the new label WolfKult Religion that in two years has been crushing some crosses with its well-done editions. This time they only released 150 damn copies to the world in 7″ vinyl format, so if you are a damn consumer of Black Dead Metal from the underground, be quick or die trying! (Seth Nekromancer)