Rating: 6.7

Country: USA

Release Date: 2003

Record Label: Olympic Recordings

Track list:
1.The Calling of Sin [MP3]
2.Soul Disment
3.Eyes of Lost
4.Decimated
5.Cross Contamination
6.Denunciation "The Cursed"
7.Entrenched Warfare [MP3]
8.Torn Apart
9.Under Existence
10.Torrential Reign [MP3]
11.The Apparition

Total playing time: 39:10

Band Website: Unholy Ghost

Unholy Ghost - Torrential Reign

Aantar Coates - Drums
Jerry Mortellaro - Guitar
Kelly McLauchlin - Guitar
Paul Ouellette - Bass, Vocals

Diabolic seemed to always be one of those bands were internet death metal “fans” could bash endlessly. Words like “useless” and “generic” described this band like some would describe Morbid Angel with the word “fast”. I never really cared for such an uneducated and brash “opinions” because personally, I found Diabolic to be extremely satisfying. How many bands from the late 90's/early 00's can you name that went out there, cranked out 100% PURE death metal with soul shredding solo tradeoffs complete with whammy bar armageddon and fingers that are so nimble you swear the guitarists must've had 37 fingers each. Bands that didn't resort to such treachery as cramming as many slam riffs in 30 minutes as they possibly could-or just burping nonsense while a guitar player played “stuff” instead of real riffs. Scratching your head a little aren't you? Now try to name AMERICAN BANDS! Yah, that's what I thought…

Anyway, lots of legal bullshit, attitude problems and other things split Diabolic up. Brian Malone got a new lineup and released one of 2003's absolute MASTERPIECES in the form of 'Infinity Through Purification'. While 2/3rds of Diabolic at the time joined with Pessimist mastermind Kelly McLaughlin to create Unholy Ghost. ‘Ghost quickly popped out a rather vicious 3 song demo/promo that I have, and love… but Brian Malone easily trumped them with a scathing, progressive, and just downright AWESOME full length (that unfortunately was the Diabolic name's swansong). Which, to me was one of 2003's best releases. Finally Unholy Ghost recorded and released what I am reviewing. A name initially meant to belong to the last Diabolic album was resurrected along with the three promo tracks, 'Torrential Reign'. Unfortunately, besides two or three others, these (the three promo tracks) are easily the most “stand out” numbers. Even more unfortunate is one of the other best songs is the opener… But before I go off on downing this release I can say, with no question this is by far better than Diabolic's 'Vengeance Ascending'.

This album opens with "The Calling of Sin". Sounds just like Diabolic if you ask me. It's a little Slayer, a lot of Possessed, and even more old Morbid Angel. Aantar's drum kit sounds “almost” natural-somewhere in between Diabolic's debut ('Supreme Evil') and the remarkable followup ('Subterraneal Magnitude'). Immediately catchy rapid fire riffs scatter and destroy, it's a bit repetitive but effectively cohesive. Soon enough it's time for nimble fingers to show themselves in all of their glory, Kelly's solo hits first, sounds like early Diabolic, Jerry's follows, sounds more like latter Diabolic, that “dreaming of floating over majestic plains of ruins” sound that never gets old. This is indeed some quality death metal-again it's repetitive, but it's still rather powerful!

Next up is a track from the promo "Soul Disment" being a near 100% speed number, the kind of track 'Vengeance Ascending' needed desperately. And again, Slayer + Possessed + Morbid Angel usually equals a Dia-oh, excuse me, an “Unholy Ghost” song, and yes that's a very VERY good thing. Whammy bars are molested, snares are throttled. Horns are raised and someone somewhere is bleeding. It's all coming across so nicely-the flow of these two songs is seamless and we might just be in for a blistering ride.

Notice I said “might“. When I first listened to this album, it was these 2 songs that kept my interest sparked. Dia-*clears throat* Unholy Ghost were not going to disappoint. After "Soul Disment" fades "Eyes of Lost" begins. And YUCK, some slow, chunky riff that just goes nowhere forever… what happened? Why mess up such a marvelous and malicious flow with a song that just is NOT GOOD and drags endlessly. I fast forward just to hear the solos… and they aren't very good, man what a crappy song.

"Decimated" is next, it's along the lines of the openers, just not as abrupt at times nor as entertaining… but still rather good, maybe a little darker, certainly better than "Eyes of Lost". Kelly's solo is pretty fucking insane, albeit short. At this point I will now stop typing and digest some music before concluding this review (don't want to just half ass this review, it's everything I stand against in death metal reviews!!!).

As songs pass by, I still find myself feeling more attached to the promo material (being "Soul Disment", "Denunciation", and "Under Existence") but I can't take much away from the crushing "Entrenched Warfare" and shortest *real* song "Torn Apart". The only true problem with the majority of this material (ok, I fibbed, I should be saying “all of“) is that it's nothing remotely close to the power, passion nor progression found in Diabolic's 'Infinity through Purification'. Not withstanding I don't hear much going wrong here (besides "Eyes of Lost").

Vocalist Paul Ouellette hasn't sounded this good since the early Diabolic albums. The guitar tone is scathing and beefy and the solos for the most part are a bit more chaotic that the last Diabolic album most of the line up was associated with. As stated early in the review, even Aantar's drum kit sounds almost like a real kit now! The only problem here is, what in a way could be considered the “real” Diabolic line up has an album nothing nearly close to the magnificence of the “other” Diabolic‘s album, a band which has now become defunct. Did you get all of that? Lord, I hope so, it's even confusing for me to write.

ANYWAY. Since this IS “in a way“, a Diabolic album (sorry Jerry n company, if it walks like a duck etc., etc., etc.) I will conclude the interview with a little chart of my own telling you, if you do or don't like Diabolic, or Unholy Ghost where this album sits amongst the other Diabolic albums (not including Unholy Ghost‘s promo or Diabolic‘s demo).


1. Diabolic's Subterraneal Magnitude
2. Diabolic's Infinity Through Purification (maybe these first two are a tie with me)
3. Diabolic's Supreme Evil
4. Unholy Ghost's Torrential Reign
5. Diabolic's Vengeance Ascending


Ouch, oh well, that's the truth of it all!
Good album, but not Diabolic's best… even if this band isn't named “Diabolic”.
Better luck next time, when there is no competition!

(Shortly after I wrote this review drummer Aantar Coates was either fired or dismissed himself from the band and has been replaced by David Breazeal. Kelly McLauchlin promised that the new drummer is 100 times better than Aantar wishes he was. Which would mean he must be a cross between Gene Hoglan, Pete Sandoval, Derek Roddy, Dave Culross and Richard Christy)

March 7th, 2005