I can tolerate terrible bands and terrible albums. If your are bad, your are just bad. But if there’s one thing I can’t stand it blatant mediocrity- a borderline musical safety net and status quo that’s just ‘there’ despite talent. And Germany’s Chaos Invocation is such a band. It irks me even more so when Ive seen oodles of positive press about this release.

Though thematically plying a sort of Weapon-like form of occult, ritualistic black metal, the end result is simply a predictable, generic take on black metal that’s far blander than the imagery and lyrics promise.

After the introductory “Channel the Mysteries” promises a more sublimely malevolent album, Chaos Invocation instead deliver a rudimentary take on typical Scandinavian black meta. Put all the usual suspects in a hat and pull one out, and you’ll hear it here; Marduk. Immortal, Deathspell Omega, Watain, Dark Funeral etc, as the band blaze through tremolo picked, blast beat filled forgetfulness. It’s not until “Across Mental Borders” (5 songs in) that the band displays any of the creativity and malice I was expecting. Not that anything proceeding is terrible, but I’ve heard it before- many, many times.

After until “Across Mental Borders” the albums does pick up somewhat with a descent into more controlled serpentine, riffs, chants and atmospheres like “Psalm of Fornication” , “Passages”, “Marana Tha”, “To Harvest The Madness Of Satan” and closer “Trident of Illumination” which inject some icky, ambient passages and moments more befitting the bands moniker. Its not Funeral Mist of anything, but is certainly far better than the album’s utterly forgetful first half. And hopefully these elements take center stage in the future and make the next two planned albums in this occult trilogy stand out a little more.

[Visit the band's website]

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