It seems lately for me that I have been listening to a lot of EP’s.or albums with a shorter run time. With life’s hectic schedule, art deadlines and such, I don’t have a lot of time and albums that are short and to the point, get the job done when life doesn’t allow for sitting back and absorbing the latest Triptykon or Shape of Despair. Sometimes you need something that gets in and out with minimal fuss and at 27 minutes the latest from Invocation Spells does just that.

Invocation Spells is new to me but the artist in me sees that cover, the layout and overall presentation and I’m hooked, yes, I am guilty of judging a book by its cover. But happily this was and is a welcome find and I was impressed with the quality and energy that these guys are putting forth. From the first track, I was hooked, visions of early Celtic Frost with the rambunctiousness of Motorhead and touches of Horned Almighty, spew forth from my speakers with its black n roll styling and chaotic simple mindedness. This is not a knock on them mind you, just like the Ramones cannot be put at fault for their own brand of music, with Invocation Spells you get that metal charged aggression in much the same way.

Songs are short and to the point Only the opening and closing track “At The End of Time” go over the 2 ½ minute mark, and you will revel and rejoice in the dark morbidity as you thrash about your room in headbanging joy and lighting a black candle to thank the elder gods for true blackened Metal such as this and to know that the flag is still waving high in the (south american) underground today. Ha ha, but enough of the melodramatics, in all seriousness this is a enjoyable listen. Much of my musical listening criteria is mood and moments, a time and place for everything, and like stated above from the first sounds of the riffs bellowing through my speakers from opener “Betrayal of Bastard” I was hooked. The pace and fury of the drumming fits the songs, no frills and just gets the job done. I laugh to myself tho because it may be a drum machine because no drummer is listed but production and sound doesn’t make it seem artificial. What the sole 2 members do, Obsessor (bass) and Witchfucker (guitars) definitely gets my attention. With songs titles like “Lust To Death, Occult”, “Under The Shadows of Pentagram”, its given on subject matter and the music accommodates it perfectly. A bright, clear and energetic production, makes it easy to tap into the frenetic energy of the songs but also still have a bit of an old school feel.

So if dark, ravenous fueled aggression is the order of the moment and you need to pick up little Joey or Susie from school in a half hour and you gotta have your metal fix, this album is for you. Also of note, it seems to be getting a re-release thru Hell’s Headbangers, which allows more accessibility for all you metalheads out there.

[Visit the band's website]

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