Lightning Swords of Death
Basement Torture Killings
Cattle Decapitation
Dying Fetus
Infant Annihilator
Signal the Firing Squad
These are names that, in my opinion, you see and they make you go "Hey that's a crazy name, I have to check those guys out!" I feel that if the music the band produces is good then the band can be named anything you want (all the bands on my list produce great music). If the band sucks, then it appears that you are trying to hard to get noticed in the ever expanding metalverse.
Which brings me to the first name on the list, Lightning Swords of Death, who just released their second album, Baphometic Chaosium, on Metal Blade records.
Now I know this review is coming almost a week after the album was released, but I had to wait to get the cd in the mail and was really busy this week and couldn't find time to review it until this weekend. But anytime is really a good time for a review so here is mine.
Now I don't know what kind of band people imagine when they hear the name Lightning Swords of Death, but I could venture to guess that they would not expect a black/death metal band.
I will admit I am a new fan of Lightning Swords of Death, I saw an add for their first album The Extra Dimensional Wound in an issue of Revolver back in 2010 and the sound took a while for me to get used to. But as I started to like more black/death metal bands like say Immortal and Goatwhore, I found my self re discovering this band and this time around really liking what I heard which led me to buying The Extra Dimensional Wound and pre ordering Baphometic Chaosium.
Fans of the band will be glad to hear that Lightning Swords of Death's unique mixture of black and death metal still reigns supreme on Baphometic Chaosium (although to be perfectly honest I don't know if any fans were worried that the band's sound would change at all).
The album combines the ripping intensity of Immortal like black metal with the slow to mid tempo passages one may find in a Celtic Frost song. The band transitions through these two mediums effortlessly as demonstrated in the title track. The title track starts with a slow and haunting bass line, as if luring the listener into a darkened chamber lit only by candles. Then all of the sudden the listener walks into a room where the band is playing and before the listener can say "Holy black metal batman!" the song launches into a fury of shredding guitars and lightning fast drums and the listener is quickly surrounded by characters in dark robes and taken on a journey that will change them forever.
From there the mood of the album rarely changes as Lightning Swords of Death bombard the listener with 7 more tracks just as evil and wicked as the one the came before it. Leaving the listener with a massive bangover and weird marks on their back that weren't there before they started listening to the album.
In conclusion if you are already a fan of Lightning Swords of Death than you will really enjoy Baphometic Chaosium, it is just as good as The Extra Dimensional Wound. If you don't know this band, and like bands such as Goatwhore, Immortal, and Celtic Frost. Pick up Baphometic Chaosium, you won't be sorry.
Overall Rating: 8/10
Thanks guys!
-Zach
Remember if there is a band you want me to talk about or an album you want me to review, leave a comment below or tweet me @zachktheanimal.
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