REVIEW: AKERCOCKE - THE GOAT OF MENDES

 

AKERCOCKE - THE GOAT OF MENDES (Peaceville Recs., 2001):

Track List: 1- Of Menstrual Blood and Semen, 2- A Skin For Dancing In, 3- Betwixt The Iniquitatis and the Prostigiators, 4- Horns of Baphomet, 5- Masks of God, 6- The Serpent, 7- Fortune My Foe, 8- Infernal Rites, 9- He Is Risen, 10- Breaking Silence, 11- Initiation, 12- Ceremony of Nine Angles, Video Enhancement for "Infernal Rites".

Akercocke is a really original band...in fact I could not have said this by listening to the first track, but it is a completely different band from the second track until the end of the CD. And they are really powerful !! Is it correct to call them industrial melodic brutal death metal? (what a name!...I hate labels). They have elements of each of this styles: The guttural vocals like the ones used in death metal bands, a lot of electronic elements (courtesy of Martin Bonsoir), and a lot of melodies in many of the parts (and in the vocals too in some choruses). I think that this two last elements are what make the Akercocke sound really original...killer guitar riffs with natural harmonics thrown here and there...electronics and keyboards used to enhance the power of the tracks, original melodies, extremely fast solos, some more calm moments like "Fortune My Foe"... And this guys are going on tour with Katatonia...what a team !!!! A must. Favorite tracks: "Horns of Baphomet", "Masks of God", "Infernal Rites". Contact: www.peaceville.co.uk or www.akercocke.com