Caedes Cruenta - Of Ritual Necrophagia and Mysterious Ghoul Cults (2xLP Ltd.)

Formed in 2003, CAEDES CRUENTA are the foremost torchbearers for the classic Greek

black metal sound. For them, the early Hellenic flame of the “Big Three” – Rotting Christ,

Varathron, and Necromantia – never died, nor did the contemporaneous flames of early

Thou Art Lord and Zemial among others. “Greek black metal” may have changed shapes

and styles over the past 30 years, but for the members of CAEDES CRUENTA, the ancient

days of the early ‘90s burns stronger than ever.

One need look no further than the band’s long-awaited third album, Of Ritual

Necrophagia and Mysterious Ghoul Cults. While the quartet released a 7” in 2017 and, a

year later, a split 7” with comrades CULT OF EIBON through HELTER SKELTER – who also

reissued their classic second album, Ερείπια Ψυχών, on cassette and vinyl earlier this

year – Of Ritual Necrophagia and Mysterious Ghoul Cults is the first full-length from

CAEDES CRUENTA in an all-too-long six years. Suitably, the band go all out here, both

topping out at 62 minutes for the most immersive experience yet, but more so in how

masterful their songwriting has become. Like their founding forebears, with LP#3 do

CAEDES CRUENTA find a truly magickal balance between aggression and atmosphere; to

walk among the myriad landscapes of Of Ritual Necrophagia and Mysterious Ghoul Cults

is to equally walk within the cemetery at night and deep within a castle’s dungeons, and

to be equally emboldened to charge into any battle. Of course, central to their sound is

that classic Greek black metal physicality: pulsing and patient but portending

ominousness and metallic might, the surging, Alpha sound of ancient brimstone made

forever vital and virile. Not for nothing did the band record the whole album live this past

summer at the Eleventh Tower Studios in Athens – indeed, a rarity in these days of Pro-

Tooled studio-only “bands.” As ever, CAEDES CRUENTA are bass-heavy in their infinitely

potent throb and tastefully embellish that sound subtle layers of mystical synth, but also

will one find triumphant heavy metal leads and an utterly engaging dual-vocal attack.

And while roughly half of Of Ritual Necrophagia and Mysterious Ghoul Cults comprises

songs from the band’s recent past, these re-recorded versions are their ultimate

expression: fully live, and fully ALIVE with energy and mysticism.

Like its full-length predecessor and the EPs right before and right after, one could be

forgiven for thinking CAEDES CRUENTA have transported the listener back in time with

Of Ritual Necrophagia and Mysterious Ghoul Cults, so authentic and invigorating is their

Hellenic classicism. Thus, with this album do CAEDES CRUENTA rightfully deserve to be

mentioned among the Greek gods.

-double LP in noble high gloss gatefold printed on 350gsm paper

-black vinyl limited to 400 copies

-poster

Die Hard version limited to 100 copies includes:

-double LP in noble high gloss gatefold printed on 350gsm paper

-marine blue vinyl limited to 100 copies

-2 different posters

-screen-printed vinyl slipmat

-2 different stickers