Cultus Sanguine
Shadows' Blood

The Milan-based Cultus Sanguine is a band that, in the '90s, managed to originally mix elements of Doom Metal, Black Metal, and even Death Rock à la Christian Death. This debut of theirs (preceded by a decent EP) turns out to be my favorite among what are, at least for now, the only two official releases from such a creation.

Want to make comparisons? Besides the already mentioned Christian Death, hats off, I think of obscure bands like the Swiss Sadness, with their immense "Ames De Marbre," the Italians Monumentum and Deviate Ladies. I would like to point out that some members of the aforementioned two bands participated in the creation of this black gem.

Extremely painful music, at times screamed, at times whispered. A sound of old craftsmanship and, allow me, more morbid compared to the more metallic and square "The Sum Of All Fears." Both in terms of production and the structure of the tracks.

Entering the world of Cultus Sanguine is a painful experience, a long ordeal that traverses the darkest and most tormented sides of human existence. Above all, the concept of death reigns. Death as the end of the physical body and its consequent decomposition.

The opening "The Calling Illusion" is heart-stopping. A track that owes something to the Finnish Unholy, yet does not appear as a pale copy of their compositions. Quite the opposite!

"Il Sangue" is the epitome of darkness and bad taste. A song divided between English and Italian vocals, endowed with a Luciferian flair and undoubtedly the most impressive of the bunch.

The whole album resonates with the massive presence of "Goblinian" keyboards, a voice reminiscent of Rozz Williams that often turns into black metal screams, along with sharp riffs from the Paul Chain school.

Elements you will hear, if you wish, in compositions like "We Have No Mother," "Lady Of Lies," and "On The Nocturnal Wings."

The macabre "Among Shadows" closes the show, where we can hear the recitation of the Ave O Maria by some faithful. A brief but surely unsettling experience.

Sick, utterly depressed, and decayed. These were the very early Cultus Sanguine, a band I've known for years but only now decided to review. As in: they couldn't be missing from the deb!

To be listened to strictly on dark and rainy days.