Rating: 8.8

Country: Austria

Release Date: 2005

Record Label: Napalm Records

Track list:
1. The Cruzifixus – Anus Dei
2. Bleeding Salvation
3. Fornicationium et Immundus Diabolus
4. Sepulture of Hypocrisy [MP3]
5. The Goatreich – Fleshcult
6. Swarm of Rats [MP3]
7. Kings Shall Be Kings
8. The Crown Massacre
9. Festum Asinorum/Chapt. 2
10. Heresy of Fire (digipak/LP bonus track)

Total playing time: 44:14

Band Website: Belphegor

Belphegor - Goatreich: Fleshcult

Helmuth - Vocals, Guitar
Sigurd - Guitar
Barth - Bass, Vocals
Nefastus - Drums

Here, we find a more mature Belphegor tightening up their trademark mix of hyperblast Death Metal and the general Black Metal aesthetic. Belphegor have more of a mind for songwriting this time, rather than blasting and thrashing their way through a thirty minute record. Not to say that it hasn't worked in the past... As I've been a fan for quite some time. Hailing from Austria, they've remained relatively obscure stateside for practically their entire decade-plus career. While this album is not a departure from their traditional sound, it is without doubt, a more accessible, condensed version of what we've heard on past Belphegor releases.

The elements that have made Belphegor what they were in the past are present here, only it's all cleaned up with a powerful production that does well for their variety of insanely fast, semi-technical Metal. The drums (triggers) and guitars sound especially nice, although the vocals lack slightly in comparison to their last effort 'Lucifer Incestus', or some songs from 'Necrodaemon Terrorsathan'. Helmuth's vocal attack on 'Lucifer Incestus' was nothing short of a defining moment for this genre of music.

There's a great deal more melody here as well... Along with some slower (by Belphegor's standard) songs. "Sepulture Of Hypocrisy" is one of the slower and more melody-infused songs on the album, with it's chugging almost Doom-like cadence, strings in the chorus section, and moderately torpid vocal delivery. The mantra of this song seems to be "Dead, Dead... Your god is Dead". "Kings Shall Be Kings" is another slower tune that begins with a dirty melodic riff and a drumroll. The verse comes in, backed with Belphegor's take on a "slam riff". This riff isn't really explored much throughout the song; it seems like more of a minor musical detour. The song picks up in speed gradually over the course of the first minute, but the tempo never exceeds half-thrash. This is definitely one of my favorites on the album, simply because it's such a unique sound for this band.

This leads me to the more fast-paced tracks on the album. The kind of shit we're used to hearing from Belphegor. This is where 'Goatreich' really stands out. Aside from the two songs I mentioned in the preceding paragraph, "more fast-paced" denotes the 30 remaining minutes of the album. Remember who we're talking about here. There's more than enough rhythmic ferocity to please even the most rabid blastbeat worshipper like myself. "Swarm Of Rats" is possibly one the heaviest tunes they've written to date, and it sounds devastating on 'Goatreich'. ("Swarm of Rats" also appeared as an unmixed bonus track on 'Infernal Live Orgasm'. I seem to prefer this version) "Festum Asmorum Chapt II", and "Bleeding Salvation" are just two more in a record that's full of pummeling snare-happy godliness. Essentially, all of the songs follow a similar formula. That being Blastbeat/Verse - Skank/Chorus, wash, rinse, repeat. The vocals are pretty much split half and half between Helmuth's higher register screams, and more throaty grunts. Both styles are enjoyable, and there's a few layered sections that sound great without emulating a certain diminutive moonboots-wearing washed up biker bass playing frontman for a certain band from Tampa, Florida.

On a whole, this is an enjoyable album for just about anyone with any interest in this music. Belphegor progress without progressing and remain constant without stagnating. This is one of the most relevant albums of the year in being a sort of "mission statement" of how to properly execute this hybrid Death/Black Metal. This is an album you listen to from start to finish and enjoy every minute of it.

April 20th, 2005