Review by Jeger on June 9, 2025.

Some gifts come packaged in primitive ensconcements, and the gift itself? Like lifting a goat corpse's head out of the muck of some putrid bog. Surprise! Within the scope of Black/Death Metal - true BDM - these ghastly benefactions are divvied out by shameless purveyors of sonic goat-worship: Blasphemy, Archgoat and Profanatica. Not to be mistaken with Blackened Death Metal, which is a sub-genre of Extreme Metal that has birthed bands like Hate and Belphegor; utter shite in comparison to the above-mentioned brutes of Black/Death - my go-to bands for when I'm in the mood for music that transcends even the most savage Black Metal. The underground is teeming with Black/Death redux. As I write this, bands such as Necromaniac, Ancient Malignity and Affliction Vector are creating music that not only homages the scene greats, but also paves the way for a concrete future for BDM; one without dilution or commercialization.

Italy's Affliction Vector is a duo consisting of Vocalist/Multi-Instrumentalist, Ans, and Drummer, Chris. They formed in 2018, and have since released one EP along with their debut LP, Contra Hominem. The latter was unshackled by Iron Bonehead on June 6. Contra Hominem unfurls like a cursed union of the aforementioned Ancient Malignity and "In the Streams of Inferno" era Mysticum: unbridled ferocity, a jagged, almost Industrial edge and an overall shamelessly brutal aesthetic. Pure fucking evil. Stuff that would cause your mother to kill herself if she heard it… From straight out of forbidden Satanic chasms does Affliction Vector emerge with their primal offering, and this is no dignified affair. The opening track, "Antiuomo", begins with a playful, suspense building piano intro and then? It's into the pit we descend, as deadly riffs ensue with all the repetition of a schizophrenia-induced knife attack; maniacally plunging the blade into your tender flesh over and over and over again is AV and without a shred of mercy to spare.

"Caveman's Murmur" offers a reprieve from the madness. A highly visual interlude that invokes images of some hopeless cavern forlorn, perhaps an entrance into the uppermost platform of Hell, or perhaps the depths of a storm sewer where a psychopath disposes of his victims - Frigid water churning about, the atmosphere cold and cavernous. Just fucking miserable sounding. It's followed up by another horrific album cut in "Ephemeral Lifeless". This thing just gets more and more exhausting, but in a good way! The vocals are fear-inducing like the desperate cry of a murderer in pursuit of his victim: heart racing and envisioning your demise as he makes his way closer to where you're hiding; trembling pathetically beneath the dread of his murderous intent. Brutishly Satanic in the vein of the aforementioned Archgoat's "Worship the Eternal Darkness", but even more aggressive is Contra Hominem.

The album closes with "To Lucifer". No, this is no pretentious homage to Him, just more of the same, and there's certainly nothing fucking wrong with that! A tad bit more atmospheric though and just the slightest hint of elegance in riffing to behold. What a debut! It just rarely gets more depraved than this. A celebration of the grimiest aspects of Satanic revelry and just filthy, just fucking deadly. This is the stuff that keeps Black Metal intimidating. The diabolical Outlaw spirit of olde is alive and thriving within Affliction Vector. And Contra Hominem? Ha! Not for the faint of heart and certainly not for the novice BM enthusiast. You have to acquire a taste for this sort of music. Are you prepared? A real nightmare awaits…

Rating: 8.7 out of 10

Review by Alex on January 20, 2021.

There's no doubting the fact that once you place members of Kawir, Black Blood Invocation and Hate Manifesto together, you would be getting the highest quality of black/death metal Greece has to offer. Those are just some of the bands the members are involved in and even stretch as far as the mighty and morose Disharmony; hence the final product form Caedes Cruenta is none other than remarkable. Having been aware of their 2014 act of deplore which fell under the name Ερείπια ψυχών, expectations for Of Ritual Necrophagia and Mysterious Ghoul Cults, were cast fairly high. Thus said, their 2021 ritual set to be released through Helter Skelter and Regain Records February 1st, has once more managed to go above and beyond.

Firstly the artwork, amazing!!!, that's a metal cover, then there's the music, what more sonic strength could one's ears bare before crumbling in subservience to synth and guitar compositions this majestic. It begins on the opening title, 'Of Ritual Necrophagia and Mysterious Ghoul Cults' that's an eclectic musical dawning upon the listener. You'll get showered in completion and totally drenched in the most memorable synth pieces. The album appears filthy, yet haunting and eerie, yet beautiful romantic and majestic altogether; not forgetting that in some instances such as on 'Aura of Immortal Souls' or 'Into the Ashes of the Unforgotten Woods (L'Inferno)' there is some sense of melancholia present on Of Ritual Necrophagia and Mysterious Ghoul Cults.

The album displays a lot of dynamism atmospherically, but not at the expense of the actual metal; the vocals are raw particularly in the growling death metal parts where there's sort of a hoarse grunt that sounds just damnable which is contrasted yet supported by sharp harsh sprawling roars. Hence, there is more dynamics taking place on the record, this time within the voices heard. And to top it off the drumming and riffs work so well together pace for pace, step for step, through the changing tides of the music. Whether it be in fast blasting parts or mid paced spacious sections, they make each moment a worthwhile experience. There are even parts on here that remind me of Empire of the Moon and Incantation which makes listening to the record even more of a pleasure. Those pinch harmonics and overlord descending style of keyboards make it hard to shrug off something this grandiose.

'Of Ritual Necrophagia and Mysterious Ghoul Cults', 'From the Darkest Paths of Golgotha' and 'The Wizard of Yaddith' happen to be just a few favorites of the album that even for more than 1 hour seems to be so short for music this good.
The recording sounds like the kind of album you'd play in a cathedral or on some desecrated body of land. By the way, get that Black Blood Invocation full length done!!

Rating: 9.5 out of 10