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ZABBETH
Zabbeth

Witches Brew (2022)
Rating: 7/10

A few years ago I was bewitched by the Bathory worship of a Swedish one-man band named Born For Burning whose debut album The Ritual was an authentic re-run of some of Quorthon’s most evil children. And now we have another similar design, only this time it’s Maltese musician Chaos (aka Sean Attard) and his Zabbeth project doing the rounds of Bathory homage.

From its cover artwork to a brace of singles released earlier this year (‘Sacrifice The Bitch’ and ‘Possession’) this is very much black metal of first wave order worshipping at the blood-stained altar of the gods. What you get here is 26 minutes of music consisting of ten tracks all blessed by the spirit of Quorthon… just revel in those titles; ‘Infernal Storm’, ‘Witchcraft’, ‘The Soultaker’, ‘Damnation To Hell’, the aforementioned ‘Sacrifice The Bitch’ and ‘Possession, ‘Signing Satan’s Contact’, ‘Black Mass’, ‘Heaven’s Armageddon’ and ‘The Winds Of Chaos’.

To some extent, a review of this album is pointless as you know what’s coming, although it is worth noting the vocal snaps and some of the guitar work, particularly on ‘The Soultaker’ which is probably the only un-Bathory title on offer. But this record rattles by like a bath full of beer cans whipped up by the flow of rusty water. However, like a lot of modern stuff, if it’s executed correctly then it’s okay by me.

‘Signing Satan’s Contact’ is a mayhemic holocaust of throaty warbles and whipping drums courtesy of guest dude Paul Formosa (Ascendor), but Chaos has more than successfully authentically duplicated the most destructive and blackest era of Bathory’s career.

I would highly recommend having a dehumidifier installed in that bathroom of yours just to swat away the black, choking fumes puked out by this wind tunnel of worship.

Neil Arnold

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