Hailing from Greece, Liturgy of Desecration unleashes ‘Eschatological Conflagration’, another offering of blasphemous Black/Death Metal worshipping the familiar traditions of satanic warfare and musical barbarism. Sharing similar territory with the likes of Goatvomit and Unholy Archangel, the band certainly knows which underground altar they are kneeling before.
Unfortunately, familiarity is a double-edged sword. The album delivers the expected distorted guitar assaults, savage vocals and relentless drumming, but where is the fucking individuality? Everything sounds rather predictable, as if assembled from the same old ingredients that have been circulating within the underground for decades. There is aggression, there is blasphemy, and there is the obligatory filthy atmosphere, but very little that genuinely grabs the listener by the throat.
Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing particularly wrong with playing straightforward Black/Death Metal. However, when the entire experience feels like a repetition of familiar formulas, the result becomes difficult to distinguish from the countless other releases occupying the same territory. The compositions rarely leave a lasting impression, and the overall execution lacks that distinctive character needed to elevate this beyond an ordinary underground release.
‘Eschatological Conflagration’ may satisfy those who blindly consume anything carrying the Black/Death Metal banner, but for those expecting something more memorable and genuinely destructive, this is hardly an earth-shattering experience.
Another dose of familiar underground blasphemy. The flames are burning, but the fire itself is nothing extraordinary.
