Cult Of Occult - I Have No Name (Album Review)

Release Date: March 31st 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl/Tape

I Have No Name - Tracklisting

1.I Have No Heart 13:18

2.I Have No Limbs 15:05

3.I Have No Companion 05:56

4.I Have No Tongue 03:56

5.I Have No Soul 15:44

6.I Have No End 16:51

Review

I Have No Name is the fifth album from Doom/Sludge/Post-Metallers Cult Of Occult and this is the first time I’ve featured them on the blog in over a decade or so. I honestly thought I reviewed their other albums since then as I’m a huge fan of their droned out and nihilistic vision. This time round the band offer an epic and bleak slice of Blackened Doom Metal that’s merged with Drone, Sludge and Post-Metal sensibilities.

The album lasts over seventy minutes across six tracks where Cult Of Occult perfect a violent style of twisted SONIC precision that brings a dark violent style of music that pays homage to the likes of EYEHATEGOD, THOU, SUNN 0))), SUMAC and NEURORIS. 

There feels like a neverending sense of filth and decay that’s set against a violent style of Progressive Metal which appears throughout the whole record. The brutal vocals move between sick growls and harsh delivery though they’re quite easy to understand for the most part.

All of the tracks start with the term “I Have No” which allows Cult Of Occult to show their complete hatred and distrust with almost everything around them in the modern world. The music is constantly moving to new levels of distorted hysteria which is pitched perfectly within the two epic opening tracks of I Have No Heart and I Have No Limbs.

These two tracks set out the whole mission statement for the album where everything is played with soul crushing melodies and bleak oppression appearing within the psychedelic and droned out surroundings the band wisely use a weapon of choice to power the message home to everyone who is brave enough to listen to the album

The LOW & SLOW creative movement allows Cult Of Cult to transform into a Blackened Post-Metal monster on tracks such as I Have No Limbs, I Have No Compassion, I Have No Tongue and I Have No End. The sheer level of misery and pure violent carnage that Cult Of Occult constructs with each singular track is quite a technical marvel. As they bring a highly original style of Extreme Metal to their music that solidifies the band as one of the best and heaviest metal bands to emerge from the French underground scene over the last fifteen years or so.

If you’re expecting moments of uplifting musical passages or cinematic surroundings then you’ll surely be disappointed as that’s not Cult Of Occult’s style. The lyrics are quite shocking at times with the violent vocals adding a layer of sheer brutality that will haunt your nightmares for a long time to come. Though, the best part of the album is how the band merges different areas of Sludge, Doom, Post-Metal, Psych and Prog Metal and transforms them into a violent apocalyptic style of pure BLACK METAL CHAOS that leaves you begging for more punishment. 

Sure, the music can be very long and drawn out at times but it’s done with real intent and purpose which allows I Have No Name to become a highly unmissable record especially if you're a dedicated follower of the EXTREME METAL scene. Cult Of Occult have once again delivered the goods with a spectacular record that can only be described as “ESSENTIAL LISTENING”.

Epic. End Of.

Words by Steve Howe

Links 

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Cult Of Occult - Five Degrees Of Insanity (Album Review)

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.

Links:

Official | Facebook | BandCamp