by BBG

Impetuous Ritual

Rites of Darkness 2011 closed out on Sunday 12/11 with a somber and powerful set from melodic death-doomers Mournful Congregation (we premiered a song from their new LP) who toured the West Coast with the like-minded Aldebaran and Anhedonist. Compared to the other days, Sunday focused more on the slow-and-heavy side of things with Anatomia and Pallbearer (both bands of the doom ilk) also on the bill.

There were exceptions though. Mitochondrian, Vasaeleth, Ignivomous and Cruciamentum all focused on the death metal side of things while Ares Kingdom stayed true to blackened thrash (they also played the pre-fest). The clear standout on Sunday was Impetuous Ritual who, while doused in blood, played seemingly formless death metal with frightening accuracy and power. It was a ritual indeed, and one made for conjuring the dark spirits.

Despite the heavy drama, the rumors, the devastating cancellations, poor communication, the changes/lack of set times, the overall turnout, the garbage food and close to no options to the contrary (only nachos and hot dogs on site), and the bands that flew to the US without a flight home, Rites of Darkness III featured some of the most impressive performances of the year from bands across the globe. Favorite moments include the incendiary Antaeus, the thunderous slow-crawl of Anatomia, the stage-dives and moshing during the great Midnight, the charismatic and fantastic Adorior, the soothing melodicism of Mournful Congregation, evil incarnate from Impetuous Ritual, and Ignivomous's set closer of "World Eater" by Bolt Thrower. We'll see if it happens next year.

If you missed it, check out pictures and reviews from day 1 and day 2, and then check out more pictures from the final day at Rites of Darkness (I missed Vasaeleth unfortunately, though I did catch their set at the pre-fest), below...

Continue reading "Rites of Darkness 2011 -- Day 3 pics & review"

words by Kim Kelly, photos by BBG

Adorior @ Rites of Darkness

Rites of Darkness is in full swing, with both pre-fests done and dusted (check out photos of the Bond's show here) and Day 1 still ringing in our ears. On Friday evening, doors opened at 4pm and the opening band, Houston death metallers Warmaster, got short shrift: the line of black leather-clad punters wound 'round the outside of the building waited impatiently for the singular door-person to check their IDs well into and past their set (from what we could hear, their crushing, Bolt Thrower-inspired cacophony deserved better).

Philly black-thrashers Infernal Stronghold (who just got back from a short tour with Absu) ripped through a short set of urban blasphemy, taunting the still-lethargic crowd ("I didn't realize we were gonna be playing a fuckin' nursing home!") until the room filled up and the front row got violent. Ritual Necromancy brought the Incantation worship (filtered through a few grimy layers of doom and blackness), then Grave Upheaval filled the entire fucking room with (funeral) fog, which helped distract a bit from the monotony of their muddy, unfocused material.

Dispirit, who had appeared at the prefest and were hastily added to the fest proper, were once again at the top of their game; their hypnotic, atmospheric black metal rituals captivated and impressed. London horde Adorior, one of the most anticipated acts of the fest, delivered a wickedly intense, utterly savage set of thrashy death/black. Their imposing, leather-and-spike-clad frontwoman Melissa screamed bloody gore, sneering and mocking the "whiners and bitches" who'd been complaining about the fest and unveiling a new song: "This one's about fucking surviving, you know? This is "Gutters of Cum."

Canadian black/death cult Weapon were up next. This was their first-ever time playing the United States, and the maniacs down the front made their appreciation known, as a sea of fists and deafening roars greeted the quartet between every merciless cut of raw, sinewy death, blackened and tempered with shades of Middle Eastern melody. Afterwards, the mighty Demigod, Finnish gods of death, took the stage to play their seminal classic Slumber of Sullen Eyes in its entirety. "Amazing" is the only word that comes to mind; they were utterly on point, totally focused, and devastatingly heavy - a well-oiled war machine. The show closed out with two-man black metal institution Inquisition (who recently laid waste to NYC with Disma). Dagon's vocals, always a matter of contention, were a bit too loud, but the overall effect was fluid and damn near trance-inducing.

Stay tuned to BrooklynVegan for continuing coverage from Rites of Darkness 2011. Check out more pictures from Day 1 below...

Continue reading "Rites of Darkness 2011 -- Day 1 pics & review"

by BBG

Inquisition at Maryland Deathfest (more by BBG)

NYC's Studio at Webster Hall will soon host a trifecta of black metal greatness! Inquisition will headline the venue on December 2nd with a rare appearance from Mortuary Drape and Negative Plane. Tickets are on sale.

Italy's Mortuary Drape and Inquisition will then tour their way to Rites of Darkness 3 in San Antonio, Texas where they'll join the newly added Disma, but NOT Urfaust:

URFAUST vs RITES OF DARKNESS III

URFAUST is very sad to announce that we have to cancel our Intoxication Ritual at Rites of Darkness III in Texas, USA.
Our last Alcoholic Rites on US soil where splenditory, so this is just fucked up...
Nothing more to say about this, we hope to return to the USA and Rites of Darkness in 2012!
All hail the madness!
Cheers,
Ix & Vrdrbr on behalf of Urfaust

All known Inquisition dates, the full Rites of Darkness lineup, and some video is below.

Continue reading "Inquisition & Mortuary Drape playing NYC w/ Negative Plane before Rites of Darkness 3 (lineup & dates)"