Review by Tobias on March 13, 2001.

First off, I want to say that this was a fun album. If you’re a big power metal fan, you are going to want this one ASAP. The muscle-bound Ralf Scheeper comes across as… well, Rob Halford on crack… and steroids.

The music is flat out Judas Priest… but, it’s done really well! C’mon, there’s got to be something going right for a band if it can make me throw the devil horns in the air… in private!

While this is all great and fun, I have to say that there was just a little too much of Ralf’s high piched wails. There are few and far between moments when Ralf reflects some of those big ol’ biceps in his voice, which, no pun intended, are definitely his strongest points on the album.

Like I mentioned in my review of Narnia, retro styles can be great if you bring something new to the table. Like Narnia, this is where Primal Fear is lacking. If Judas Priest continues doing what they’re doing, that’s fine, ‘cause they did it first and they are Judas Priest, the speedy generals of power metal. However, if Primal Fear wants to follow in their footsteps, I would suggest adding some new flavor to the sound, more specifically, the vocals.

I think it would do razor-Ralf a lot of good to take some lessons from the legendary Phil Anselmo of Pantera or Clutch's Neil Fallon. Get some serious balls in there and flex those monster biceps!

Bottom Line: The bassist’s name is Mat Sinner. As a power metal fan, that’s a pretty good indicator that you need to pick this up! Devil Horns!

Rating: 7 of 10

Review by Alex on July 12, 2020.

Pleasantly confused is how you'd feel once hearing this schizophrenic release of black/death metal. You won't know what hit you once you've started playing the latest title from Khthoniik Cerviiks, Æequiizoiikum. Frighteningly unorthodox yet enjoyable, the sum of the album leaves the listener within a domain of hysteria and delirium. No two tracks sound the same or are saturated with the commonalities of the genre. I don't want to say this is experimental, though it would be the obvious adjective; that word only dilutes what you get on Æequiizoiikum, however, the more applicable term would be fucked-up.

Just by the song titles I was beginning to question what Khthoniik Cerviiks were about to demonstrate and the artwork does not reveal too much or give any particular clear insight into what the heck this is, hence, the blind folded route seemed fitting.

Wasting no time to make the listener feel uncomfortable, an ambient piece 'KC Exhalement 4.0 (Welcome to HAL)' enters before 'Odyssey 3000' emerges from the misty labyrinth. Now wait for the surprise following its 2nd wave black metal structure. Spontaneous segments of altering guitar chords manifest in the catchiest of ways that sound like a spiraling descent into a vacuous realm. Still in shock and awe from the sudden flash of unorthodoxy, 'Æequiizoiikum (Mothraiik Rites)' appears immediately after and uses its melodious guitar structure to paralyze and reel in the listener before once again derailing the music by jumping into black/death/war metal territory.

Not to be mistaken for some haphazard jump around jamboree, though intrusive at times, the rhythmic diversions hold a decent amount of connection to the main riffs or structure of any selected song. Like a tunnel that has many routes that all lead to the same end, you'll find that applies, as the musical departure is often short lived and is quickly rerouted to the main song structure.

Khthoniik Cerviiks manage to keep up the sharp alterations through the flow and tuneful compositions, you'd rarely feel like there's a disconnect or filler used. I think that is the main strength of the band aside from being able to conjure a poisonous atmosphere. You'd get to 'Para-Dog-Son - Demagorgon' and 'Kollektiing Koffiin Naiils (Délire des Négations Sequence 1.0)' and fail to realize you're nearly at end of the record due to how well the band offers a reward in each entry; there's always some element that occupies your interest, inturn creating a false sense of time. Khthoniik Cerviiks are true geniuses at confluxing such diverse tempos and rhythms into sensible compositions. Whether they be irate or calm the band does an exemplary job of musical amalgamation.

Æequiizoiikum is similar to a quadrilateral equation/problem handed out by your professor that seems simple at first glance but upon attempt you quickly realize the many sub-levels that have to be traversed before acquiring the correct answer.

Rating: 8.6 out of 10

Review by Greg on April 8, 2024.

While I reckon that my eye on the Balkan metal scene tends to fall within the Serbian borders more often than not, neighboring countries do offer plenty of reasons to make me change my mind. Bulgaria's very own Terravore are already at their third LP in less than a decade, and I'll be damned if this Spiral Of Downfall doesn't at least look like something straight up my alley.

Indeed, once the title-track and opener greets you on your music player of choice, you get a pretty accurate idea of Terravore's recipe: modern thrash with a polished edge, harsh vocals that take more than a page from the Teutonic playbook, and, perhaps most notably, a terrific effort invested into the lead guitar sections. All of this, despite the decidedly old school presentation (starting with the band logo), screams Impalers more than anything else. Even Kalin Bachvarov's vocals sometimes seem to go for a vitriolic rasp akin to Søren Crawack's, albeit often lowering to a standard, death metal-like growl – but by and large it's sure to appeal to the same audience that appreciated the Danes' God from the Machine.

Additionally, an absolute plus of Spiral Of Downfall is that it offers something for everybody, and it surely helps individual songs stand out, to the listener's ears – although it's no wonder that the ones leaving the biggest trace are those breaking out of the norm the most. Whether it's 'Poisoned Skies' or 'Sleeping Caldera' bringing a sprinkle of blackened influences to the table, when not devoting themselves to awesome shredding, or 'Black Tantra' being a rare mid-tempo song that actually manages to convey the feeling of hopelessness and desperation (no doubt helped by its somber riff set), it's all something that would stick to memory. To the opposite end of the spectrum, 'Propagandacide' and 'Blunt Force Trauma' are by far the most The Celestial Dictator-esque of the lot, short, straight to the point, and without any kind of unnecessary frills.

A separate mention needs to be made for closer 'Nostromo', which, for all intents and purposes, is the equivalent of a thrash metal song written with the vision of mid-career Death in mind. This comparison might seem an excessive exercise in lateral thinking from me, whereas I'd say it's literally impossible not to make that connection, based upon the stop-start patterns and guitar noodling that bookend the song. There is also an interesting clean interlude with a trace of ethereal female choirs. Does everything make sense here? It doesn't really matter, and transitions aren't exactly harmonious (the almost 10-second gap before the actual verse starts is a clear indication), but I'd take bands pushing themselves to write ambitious compositions they have every right to be proud of, over the umpteenth rehashes of the same stuff, every day.

Now, there might be diverging opinions about the perfect length of such an album. Most of them will concur that 55 minutes isn't it. Some tracks could be axed, although not for many demerits of theirs – especially 'Shattered' is in a rather tough spot in the tracklist, to be truly appreciated, coming not long after 'P.O.L.' which also felt a bit overlong, and 'Blue Brutality' isn't on par with the rest in terms of ambition. But the whole thing is worth a listen, especially since I can't stress enough how awesome the solos of Ivan Lazarov and Boiko Nikolaev are, always with the right amount of melody and gusto, and they always, always climax, which is more than I can say about my ex-girlfriend for sure.

So, in a year of huge comebacks all around, Terravore's Spiral Of Downfall is another work that truly underlines how far from the genre's archetypal dogmas modern thrash has come, not shying away from experimenting with outer influences, although sometimes at the expense of immediate fruition. You decide whose side is the best. Ideally: merge this with Morbid Saint's "Swallowed By Hell" and you get the best of both schools.

Rating: 7.5 out of 10

Review by Greg on April 8, 2024.

While I reckon that my eye on the Balkan metal scene tends to fall within the Serbian borders more often than not, neighboring countries do offer plenty of reasons to make me change my mind. Bulgaria's very own Terravore are already at their third LP in less than a decade, and I'll be damned if this Spiral Of Downfall doesn't at least look like something straight up my alley.

Indeed, once the title-track and opener greets you on your music player of choice, you get a pretty accurate idea of Terravore's recipe: modern thrash with a polished edge, harsh vocals that take more than a page from the Teutonic playbook, and, perhaps most notably, a terrific effort invested into the lead guitar sections. All of this, despite the decidedly old school presentation (starting with the band logo), screams Impalers more than anything else. Even Kalin Bachvarov's vocals sometimes seem to go for a vitriolic rasp akin to Søren Crawack's, albeit often lowering to a standard, death metal-like growl – but by and large it's sure to appeal to the same audience that appreciated the Danes' God from the Machine.

Additionally, an absolute plus of Spiral Of Downfall is that it offers something for everybody, and it surely helps individual songs stand out, to the listener's ears – although it's no wonder that the ones leaving the biggest trace are those breaking out of the norm the most. Whether it's 'Poisoned Skies' or 'Sleeping Caldera' bringing a sprinkle of blackened influences to the table, when not devoting themselves to awesome shredding, or 'Black Tantra' being a rare mid-tempo song that actually manages to convey the feeling of hopelessness and desperation (no doubt helped by its somber riff set), it's all something that would stick to memory. To the opposite end of the spectrum, 'Propagandacide' and 'Blunt Force Trauma' are by far the most The Celestial Dictator-esque of the lot, short, straight to the point, and without any kind of unnecessary frills.

A separate mention needs to be made for closer 'Nostromo', which, for all intents and purposes, is the equivalent of a thrash metal song written with the vision of mid-career Death in mind. This comparison might seem an excessive exercise in lateral thinking from me, whereas I'd say it's literally impossible not to make that connection, based upon the stop-start patterns and guitar noodling that bookend the song. There is also an interesting clean interlude with a trace of ethereal female choirs. Does everything make sense here? It doesn't really matter, and transitions aren't exactly harmonious (the almost 10-second gap before the actual verse starts is a clear indication), but I'd take bands pushing themselves to write ambitious compositions they have every right to be proud of, over the umpteenth rehashes of the same stuff, every day.

Now, there might be diverging opinions about the perfect length of such an album. Most of them will concur that 55 minutes isn't it. Some tracks could be axed, although not for many demerits of theirs – especially 'Shattered' is in a rather tough spot in the tracklist, to be truly appreciated, coming not long after 'P.O.L.' which also felt a bit overlong, and 'Blue Brutality' isn't on par with the rest in terms of ambition. But the whole thing is worth a listen, especially since I can't stress enough how awesome the solos of Ivan Lazarov and Boiko Nikolaev are, always with the right amount of melody and gusto, and they always, always climax, which is more than I can say about my ex-girlfriend for sure.

So, in a year of huge comebacks all around, Terravore's Spiral Of Downfall is another work that truly underlines how far from the genre's archetypal dogmas modern thrash has come, not shying away from experimenting with outer influences, although sometimes at the expense of immediate fruition. You decide whose side is the best. Ideally: merge this with Morbid Saint's "Swallowed By Hell" and you get the best of both schools.

Rating: 7.5 out of 10