Maximum Metal Rating Legend

Kult ov Azazel - The World, The Flesh & The Devil - 2005 - Crash Music

TrackListing1. The World is Full of Violence 2. As Temples Burn 3. An Eternity with Satan 4. Compelled to Die 5. The Glorification of Evil 6. Trampling the Cross 7. Blood, Death & Damnation 8. The Calling Forth 9. Bloodstained Path to Victory

Well happy thoughts all around, black metal mayhem abound. Floridian band Kult ov Azazel have emerged from the dark vapors to bring us another hellish vision, this time releasing their debut for Crash Music in "The World, The Flesh & The Devil". After stunning and rave reviews from their last full length record, "Oculus Infernum", these corpse painted warmongers are hoping this new release will gain them more notoriety in a somewhat stale and forgotten metal genre. May black metal run rampant again as Kult ov Azazel are sure to please even the most light-hearted of "dark souls".

This group have had quite a roller coaster the last few years, seeing the release of two full lengths, numerous split albums, and an appearance at Canada's Northern Lights Festival. The band even managed to tour some last year, hitting the West Coast for six dates. Now the band have a slightly new lineup with guitarist Nocturath out and replacement VJS in. VJS is not a newcomer here however, he spent some time with the group on the road last year and is already familiar with most of their early material.

Style wise I feel that Kult ov Azazel fits more on the same page as Dark Funeral, but at times the band never remain quite that speedy. With blender cuts like "The World Is Full Of Violence", "Blood, Death, & Damnation", and "Bloodstained Path To Victory" the band display the most powerful sadistic energy, moving at lightspeed through humanity hatred. Other times the band showcase an old school mentality, with tracks like "An Eternity With Satan" moving at a slower pace. It is these types of song patterns and tempo that recalls early Abyss or even Enslaved. Songwriting wise you know what you are getting, with lots of hymns to the horned one himself. Not really my personal favorite of lyrics, but to each his own.

Bottom Line - An entertaining black metal act that creates the speediest hate filled havoc. While so much chaos seems to be in abundance, the band still slow down and add a basic old school approach.


--EC 08.05.05