Release
date: October 15th 2015. Label: Deadlight Entertainment. Format:
CD/DD
Five
Degrees Of Insanity – Tracklisting
1.Alcoholic
14:46
2.Nihilistic
12:10
3.Misanthropic
16:19
4.Psychotic
10:32
5.Satanic
17:11
Review:
Cult
Of Occult’s new album – Five Degrees Of Insanity – is a
complex, dark and brooding exercise in Sludge based torture. This
album is the audio equivalent of intense pain as the band doesn’t
shy away from creating brutal down-tempo Doom/Sludge Metal that some
people may struggle with. The twisted album cover tells you what to
expect for the next 65 minutes or so.
Even
the bleak song titles revel in the misery as Cult Of Occult lay on
the doom ridden filth onto the listener. Opening track – Alcoholic
– has enough vitriol and power to drive you to drink. The vocals
are pitch black from the start with the intense and almost psych
based doom and gloom rhythms make this perhaps one of the darkest
albums your likely to experience this year.
The
band deserves credit for creating epic songs that not only holds your
attention but actually demands your respect. Who’s going to argue
with them as the nihilistic tone of the album is so commanding
through out. The songs range from 10 mins to 17 mins in length as
the band leave no stone unturned as the riffs become bleaker and
darker with each passing moment.
Tracks
such as Nihilistic, Misanthropic, and Psychotic – sees the band
venture further into drone based sonic territory as the music can
become slightly repetitive at times but it’s the bleak outlook of
the whole album that holds your attention. The final song – Satanic
– is the darkest song on the album well with a name like that what
did you expect – A ray of sunshine. No chance. Not with these
filth-ridden doom-mongers. It’s good to see Cult Of Occult actually
play some gloomy Occult based metal with a tinge of Psychedelic Drone
based noise that I remember from their earlier releases. The mix of
clean based vocals and death based growls works superbly well as the
band unleash perhaps the standout track on the album.
Five
Degrees Of Insanity is an excellent record that will frustrate you at
times but you can’t deny how powerful it really is. Cult Of Occult
should be very proud of this album. It may not be to everyone’s
tastes but at least they have the vision and courage in releasing a
superb album such as this. Excellent and Highly Recommended.
Words
by Steve Howe
Thanks
to Alex at Deadlight Entertainment for the promo. Five Degrees Of
Insanity is available to buy now on CD/DD.
