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