Review by Felix on April 9, 2024.

Carnivore achieved cult status. Guess this cannot be denied. I just do not understand why. Their crossover thrash commutes between punk-infused, short eruptions and drug-imbued, multi-layered heavy metal stompers. But in hindsight, it seems to me that they focussed too much on provocation. Cheap provocation, to be clear. At first glance, “Race War” with lines like “Your skin’s an ugly colour” seemed to indicate a right-wing band (abominable thought), but “no one wins, we all lose” left some loopholes open for the band. Music-wise, this opulently designed track with double bass supported mega-heavy verses and some speedy sequences indicate a solidly working unit. This is no isolated case. “Retaliation” features a band that acts like a well-oiled machine. Okay, I must say that some parts of the songs are going nowhere. Nevertheless, the band’s song-writing usually shows no serious signs of weakness, neither when it comes to punk-inspired sections nor when the musicians walk on metallic territory.

On the other hand, outstanding tunes are missing. “Retaliation” transports a lot of attitude and was probably an inspiration for later hardcore combos like Biohazard. But the song material itself is just okay, nothing more. Of course, one can enjoy “Angry Neurotic Catholics” or “Ground Zero” to a certain extent, but the constant self-pity of Peter Steele (R.I.P.) is hard to endure. His messages are “My only wrongdoing was being born”, “I wish you had left me unborn” or “Somebody put me out of my misery” – and these excerpts are taken from three different tracks. Insult to injury, Steele’s lyrics are also pretty dubious (“Skins and Bangers joining fight as one”) or / and full of nonsense. “His mother a nun raped by a nazi”, “Reich und roll”… eh what? But I acknowledge, lyrics are just lyrics and music is music (you didn’t know this before, I guess…). So I apologize for this phrase, let’s get back to the music.

The entire B side is a pretty joyless experience. No, the songs aren’t bad and Steele’s bass adds some casual moments. His vocals are (regardless of the lyrical content) powerful and sound natural. His comrades do a technically fine job as well. I also recognise that, just like Nuclear Assault, the three dudes went their own way. In a polarised world of posers and thrashers, Carnivore didn't allow themselves to be completely taken over by the latter side. But the songs lack catchy sections, musical brilliance and a total flop like the Jimi H. cover (“Manic Depression, of course…) or the completely boring instrumental do not make things better. From this follows that songs like “S.M.D.” (from the A side) or “Technophobia” do not leave a lasting impression, at least in my humble opinion) and choruses like the one of “U.S.A. for U.S.A.” want to create an Agnostic Front compatible hardcore feeling, but their impact is small.

As said before, Carnivore’s cult status cannot be denied. “Retaliation” scores with a proper production and its artwork mirrors the apocalypse in a very easily understandable way. But it cannot fulfil the expectations when it comes to the most important thing, the music itself. Once again, the songs are mostly somewhere between solid, acceptable and okay, but far away from justifying the word cult. Just my two cents, I hope you do not understand this as a provocation.

Rating: 6 out of 10

Review by Krys on April 30, 2019.

The beast of chaos and annihilation has been released. Sacred ceremony was performed and recorded under apt name Sacrament on cinders of what used to be No Solace Studio by the possessed trio known as Lvcifyre. If Svn Eater was a glimpse through the gates of hell, then this is a full tar bath with human blubber oils and stanch of moldered intestines inside the halls of the underground.

At first, I was disappointed that after 5 years of silence I was only presented with 19 minutes (not counting the cover track) of original material but now I don't think this sacrament could be conducted a minute longer without going completely insane. Actually, I don't think Lvcifyre are sane individuals anymore to begin with. Their mouths spit venom, instruments deliver demented melodies that have more in common with the sounds of lava burning the grounds than what an average Joe calls music and it all reeks sulfur from the speakers. From the first sounds of whatever the fuck they unleashed during the opening minute of this ritual T. Kaos gives his best vocal performance yet, becoming a possessed shaman completely controlled by his demons. He screams, wails, growls and vomits uncontrollable noises reciting demonic spells into a hypnotizing trance of chaos. Speaking of chaos, that dismal and discordant swirling of guitars is mixed with built-up atmosphere of each track going from ambient to violent outbursts that are a product of battering Menthors' drums. The blasts are executed with diabolic precision and in the most fitting segments of each track bringing the music to the point of explosion before toning it down with bewitching beat leading to the next act in this perturbed ritual.

The cover track of 'Morderca' from Polish cult black thrashers Kat definitely stands out from the rest of the material but in my opinion brings mixed feelings in the context of the whole EP experience. Lvcifyre put its own interesting take on the classic but because first 4 tracks create such a cohesive unit I found myself stopping the record after the 'Sacrament' to enjoy the filth and profound depravity of this devil worshiping act. It's an interesting bonus track but I wish it was on side B of the record for reasons mentioned above.

Sacrament is as ugly and desolate as the cover it came in. It reeks like old boiling abscess that needs to be lanced to fester the grounds with its demonic squeal. Lvcifyre's aversion to anything aesthetic is barbaric and vile, and I think they broke one of the seals of hell in the process. 

Rating: 9 out of 10    

Review by Krys on April 30, 2019.

The beast of chaos and annihilation has been released. Sacred ceremony was performed and recorded under apt name Sacrament on cinders of what used to be No Solace Studio by the possessed trio known as Lvcifyre. If Svn Eater was a glimpse through the gates of hell, then this is a full tar bath with human blubber oils and stanch of moldered intestines inside the halls of the underground.

At first, I was disappointed that after 5 years of silence I was only presented with 19 minutes (not counting the cover track) of original material but now I don't think this sacrament could be conducted a minute longer without going completely insane. Actually, I don't think Lvcifyre are sane individuals anymore to begin with. Their mouths spit venom, instruments deliver demented melodies that have more in common with the sounds of lava burning the grounds than what an average Joe calls music and it all reeks sulfur from the speakers. From the first sounds of whatever the fuck they unleashed during the opening minute of this ritual T. Kaos gives his best vocal performance yet, becoming a possessed shaman completely controlled by his demons. He screams, wails, growls and vomits uncontrollable noises reciting demonic spells into a hypnotizing trance of chaos. Speaking of chaos, that dismal and discordant swirling of guitars is mixed with built-up atmosphere of each track going from ambient to violent outbursts that are a product of battering Menthors' drums. The blasts are executed with diabolic precision and in the most fitting segments of each track bringing the music to the point of explosion before toning it down with bewitching beat leading to the next act in this perturbed ritual.

The cover track of 'Morderca' from Polish cult black thrashers Kat definitely stands out from the rest of the material but in my opinion brings mixed feelings in the context of the whole EP experience. Lvcifyre put its own interesting take on the classic but because first 4 tracks create such a cohesive unit I found myself stopping the record after the 'Sacrament' to enjoy the filth and profound depravity of this devil worshiping act. It's an interesting bonus track but I wish it was on side B of the record for reasons mentioned above.

Sacrament is as ugly and desolate as the cover it came in. It reeks like old boiling abscess that needs to be lanced to fester the grounds with its demonic squeal. Lvcifyre's aversion to anything aesthetic is barbaric and vile, and I think they broke one of the seals of hell in the process. 

Rating: 9 out of 10