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SATAN’S HOST
Pre-Dating God Part 1 / Pre-Dating God Part 2

Moribund (2015)
Ratings: 8.5/10 (Part 1) / 8.5/10 (Part 2)

I applauded Satan’s Host’s 2013 release Virgin Sails – their eighth overall – and I’m pleased to report that the Denver, Colorado-based demons are back at it again with two separate full-length monsters released simultaneously, which again offer up a venomous dose of traditional metal that has been described as “power black metal”.

Satan’s Host – who, believe it or not, formed back in the 70s – combine thrash metal with a classic power metal belligerence, which is also fused with a Mercyful Fate-style of imagery and Gothic savagery. It’s not an original sound, but it’s one so sincere and fiery that you cannot help but lose yourself as the deadly trio takes you on a journey into the fiery depths of what real metal should be about. Basically, we get a bunch of tales constructed on the strong vocal work of former Jag Panzer frontman Harry “The Tyrant” Conklin; although he prefers to be known as Leviathan Thisiren here.

Now, although Satan’s Host play straightforward metal, there is that old school air about it as they march through the thrashier workouts of tracks such as ‘Embers Of Will’ from Part 1 with its sizzling solos and rattling percussion. This is where the Mercyful Fate comparisons will no doubt be drawn, but in a sense Satan’s Host are more of a mischievous and occasionally sinister little brother to King Diamond’s demonically possessed older sister.

Although Pre-Dating God Part 1 and 2 may seem a lot to take in at first, it’s very much a mighty double slab of classy, no frills yet blazing metal which at times is truly demonic (‘Valley Of Blood’) thanks to Conklin’s versatile vocal tone where he becomes a sneering bestial manifestation of fire. The band is adept at crafting out traditional metal too, mind – as with the fantastic and melodic strains of ‘After The End’ with its plodding bass and Conklin’s clearer tone which is closer to Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickinson at times.

With this weighty package, there are so many gems to choose from; like the slow-building and foreboding ‘Pre-Dating God’ and the pounding cover of Grim Reaper’s ‘See You In Hell’. Nevertheless, Satan’s Host refuse to be stuck in that mid-80s creaky trudge.

On Pre-Dating God Part 2 they come out swinging with the pacey, thrash-tinged ‘Fanning The Flames Of Hell’, the utterly monstrous ‘Soul Wrent’ with its guttural growls and epic structures, the doomy ‘As The Dead, They Sleep’, and the progressive rock strains of ‘Descending In The Shadow Of Osiris’.

These two are a cornucopia of darkness, a hot-bed of molten metal and with a cloak made of steel and eyes burning like hot coals. Satan’s Host once again couldn’t get any more metal, and prove that the Devil has all the best tunes.

Neil Arnold

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