Sacrilegious Impalement – Exalted Spectres

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Although somewhat direct and lacking the creativity to escape the satanic black metal stereotype, Sacrilegious Impalement’s second CD Cultus Nex did show a lot of promise, even if it didn’t quite deliver upon it. Whilst the band’s music was something we have all seen before, it had an aggressive guitar sound that made it sound more brutal than a lot of the black metal ilk, without losing a sense of melody in the process. The Finnish band’s third record, Exalted Spectres, sadly does not make good on the promise of its predecessor, but at least is consistently good and retains the quality of the previous release. The album is slightly more intricate and more dynamic – although thankfully not by too much. The band’s evident satanic themes, coupled with a firm grip of melody, does remind the listener of Watain and the like, though at times it does feel like the less sophisticated version. The band’s guitar tone is perhaps warmer than typical black metal as well, songs like Omnipotens Aeterne sounding closer to the early works of Keep of Kalessin than a typical Mayhem song. The album itself has some memorable tunes and a great, foreboding atmosphere, though perhaps lacks in strong riffs. The recording also sounds rather quiet when compared to other, similar releases. Like Cultus Nex, Exalted Spectres shows promise, but doesn’t quite deliver. It certainly doesn’t ‘shred your soul with its audial razors’, whatever that might mean. Regardless, it’s still enjoyable enough for those still hungry for broody and wrathful satanic metal.

Written by James Donovan
More: 2011, Albums, Black Metal, Quick.Play Reviews, Sacrilegious Impalement