‘Pure Unadulterated Hatred’ should be the slogan for Teratism’s brand of Black Metal. Forming just over seven years ago, the uncompromising, consistently cold and satanic music of USBM underground sound, Teratism, has returned to unleash a vat of orthodox Black Metal on ‘Pure Unadulterated Hatred.’ After their 2004 full-length ‘The Blessing of Death’ off of Root of All Evil Productions, they also went through Non Compos Mentis Records, Graveless Slumber Productions and now use Obscure Abhorrence Productions, so chances are you’ve heard of them from somewhere.
Feeling the hot brands of Satan’s little helpers, ‘Sacramental Offering of the Four Crowned’ opens the gates of Hell to ‘Slithering.’ The music forms the classic and typical Black Metal transition from cold to colder, snowfall to snowstorm. ‘Triumph of the Grotesque’ starts up and offers some intense hammering, riffing and a more powerful, in your face statement. There are a couple of acoustic flicks, adding dexterity and slicing through the densely packed production. ‘Wail of the Whorthodox’ is etymology straight from the serpent’s tongue and more seething beasts erupting from almost monotone production. The contrast of fire from their music against the wall of production keeping them from igniting your full, audible spectrum actually adds to their atmospheric take of Black Metal, like peering between the cracks of Pandora’s Box. Just be sure to play the album extra loud or you won’t like it at all.
The true highlights though, are ‘Upon the Cusp’ and ‘Igniting the Black Flame,” both taking the speedy approach where Teratism shines. The title track is bestial and climatic along with ‘Reaching for Damnation,’ featuring down-winding guitars and a luminescent and fading outro. As you arrive at the end, ‘Upon a Timeless Moon’ is where you will realize the atmospheric might of Teratism one way or the other. It’s one six-minute pool of coagulation, phantom-like cries and a subtle instrumental. Not a very good way to end an album of vehement pounding, but not a bad song.
If the tracks were re-arranged, then the album would flow better overall. Not that the first half is at all boring, but it doesn’t match up with the last half, that’s full of much more invigorating and varied music. Teratism have managed to stick with their style of basic, necro, Black Metal and stay the course of praising Satan’s name in a genre where this type of mind-set is seen as yesterday’s business. Like all good Black Metal, “Pure Unadulterated Hatred” still harbors some non-sanded down edges. So you shouldn’t expect perfection to the T, just blasphemous music.
