Rating: 8.4

Country: Brazil

Release Date: 2004

Record Label: Weird Truth Productions/Dying Music

Track list:
1. Ctulhu - The Unspeakable
2. Cycle of the Entity
3. Abominations Rise
4. Unholy Ancient Masters
5. Millenary Evil Conspiracy [mp3]
6. Archôn Tôn Daimonion
7. Shoggoths (Summon the Hate)
8. Zi Dingir Kia Kanpa [mp3]
9. Al Azif - The Canticle of Magicians
10.Thou Art Lord (Acheron cover)

Band Website: Sanctifier

Sanctifier - Awaked By Impurity Rites

Herman Priestkiller - Guitar
Flávio Diabolus - Bass Guitar
Alexandre Emerson - Guitar
Fabio Braynes - Vokills
Rafael Wild - Drums

Sanctifier has, with great determination and struggle, pulled itself out of the dreaded Brazilian death metal vortex in which nearly all the local bands get easily hence shamelessly sucked in towards its center - where Krisiun lies. You can breathe a sigh of relief because this is not the type of band that will make you do things faster and make life seem more chaotic than it already is. More importantly, it doesn't sound like the continuation of that Brazilian album you heard five years back and heard it every time since.

Awesome. But are you sure you're talking about a death metal band from Brazil you ask. Yes, yes, and to pacify you I'll even compare it with the local bands Headhunter DC and Rebaelliun. They use the comparatively relaxed and sensible old school approach of the former with the angry and mean riffing of the latter. But that hardly explains their music. Let's get out of Brazil for the benefit of both of us. Let's go to Florida, that place is swell I heard. Now you might not be too surprised when I mention their Morbid Angel inclination (here it's from their 'Blessed Are The Sick'-era) that is so often the case, but what if I say Brutality or Disincarnate? I'm sure by reading that you a boner as sudden and hard as a balloon inflated up to the point of bursting. I can already hear squeaky rubbing sounds coming from some of you. I know this is not the best time to say this, but there is also a significant Sinister influence in their music chiefly from their ‘Hate' album. And that is coupled with thrashy parts from newer Malevolent Creation albums in songs like “Zi Dingir Kia Kanpa“ and “Al Azif - The Canticle of Magicians“, the last one even having an exclusive Immolation moment. Sorry to have burst your balloon.

The songs are written in an instinctive manner - by that I mean they usually progress the way you'd want them to which makes it very satisfying. There are some innovative ideas, but generally the album suffers from a bit of mediocrity. It's similar to Monstrosity's ‘In Dark Purity' album, which in spite of being pretty mediocre is very solid and enjoyable. The song “Abominations Rise” is a hair-raising delight. It raises the dense hairs on my ass so firmly that it creates a Velcro effect when it comes in contact with my underwear. It's best if you don't attempt to pull it off then.

The production is thick, crunchy and heavy, like an extra large bar of biscuit chocolate. I like how the vocalist's low and coarse growls are empathetic towards the music - even with a limited range he's able to modulate his voice slightly to suit the tempo of the music. In that aspect he's comparable to Ross Dolan of Immolation. The leads are splendid, sound like the ones on the first Nephasth album - only a lot sweeter, wailing and pleading, like a little diabetic girl. You'd want to pay up right there only for her. Thankfully the album isn't prolonged and there is a very well done Acheron cover at the end.

From a country like Brazil, this is a rather unique death metal spectacle, occurring as rarely as a solar eclipse. Make sure you don't miss it.

April 10th, 2006